Rotherham Hospital's A&E to undergo a £7m expansion with new facilities
Rotherham Hospital’s £7m A&E upgrade to include minor injury and primary care unit
Rotherham Hospital is set to undergo a major £7 million upgrade to its Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, aimed at improving patient flow and addressing growing demand for urgent care services.
The expansion will introduce additional waiting and clinical spaces, alongside a new unit for minor injuries and urgent primary care. As part of the development, a purpose-built fracture clinic equipped with its own x-ray facility, new sexual health services, and a pre-assessment centre will also be established.
Sally Kilgariff, Chief Operating Officer at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the significance of the investment:
"We have secured £7 million to enhance our urgent and emergency care services, increasing capacity within the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre (UECC). This includes a dedicated space for urgent primary care and minor injuries, as well as a new medical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) facility. The expansion is expected to be completed by June."
To accommodate these changes, several hospital services will be relocated to refurbished facilities. The pre-assessment centre will move to a new location near the day surgery unit in April, while the updated sexual health facilities will open in summer near the hospital's main entrance. Additionally, the new fracture clinic and a refurbished orthotics department are set to open by winter.
Kilgariff noted the increasing demand for emergency care in recent years, stating that while the hospital has expanded its UECC workforce, limited space has been a challenge.
"This expansion will provide much-needed additional waiting and clinical space, allowing us to adapt to patient demand for urgent care and minor injury services." she said.
Currently located on Ward B6, the medical SDEC unit will also be moved to a dedicated facility adjacent to the urgent and emergency care centre, marking a significant improvement in accessibility and efficiency.
The upgraded facilities are expected to enhance patient experience and support the hospital in delivering timely, high-quality care to the local community.