Disruption fears over A&E revamp

Building work has started on The Royal Oldham's A&E Expansion

The Royal Oldham Hospital, which serves Rochdale as well as Oldham, says disruption will be kept to a minimum during the £3.5 million redevelopment of its accident and emergency department.

The department will move to a smaller base on the site while the refurbishment work goes ahead.

Dr Tom Leckie, hospital consultant in emergency medicine, said: “The accident and emergency department will continue in temporary accommodation, where space is more constrained. Patients are encouraged to consider alternatives such as their local pharmacist, GP or walk-in centre.”

The construction works entail the complete remodelling of the existing A&E Department and will provide six adult resus bays and one paediatric resus bay.

The expansion will include the development of ten treatment cubicles, one psychiatric liaison room, one individual treatment room and a shared plaster room with Paediatrics.

In the dedicated Paediatric A&E department, there will be five cubicles and one high care room. Five consult/examination rooms will be shared by adult minor treatment staff and those in Paediatrics. An additional x-ray room will also be formed with a separate paediatric waiting area.

The A&E department at The Royal Oldham Hospital currently sees an average of 280 patients per day; approximately 94,000 patients a year. Of these, around 70 children aged under 16 are seen every day. The A&E team comprises 11 consultants in emergency medicine and 85 nursing staff.

It is hoped that the increased space and capacity will help to improve the waiting times and overall patient experience for patients requiring emergency or critical care in Oldham, Rochdale and surrounding areas.

The new A&E facilities are expected to be open by summer 2014.