Expansion of Children’s Emergency Department at NNUH seeing benefits for young patients in Norfolk

Children’s Emergency Department team

Young patients in Norfolk are now benefiting from an expansion of the Children’s Emergency Department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).
The new unit, which opened its doors to its first patients in mid-December, has tripled in size with plans to introduce further treatment areas in the future.
Other improvements include a larger waiting room designated for both younger and older children, enhanced clinical facilities, an expansion in the delivery of mental health care for children in the emergency department and an enhanced office area for staff.
Laura Hall, Children’s Emergency Department Lead Sister said: “We’re delighted to have opened our newly expanded and refurbished Children’s Emergency Department. For children and their families, coming into hospital as an emergency patient can be a stressful time. The expansion of the unit is already proving very beneficial to our younger patients and has enabled us to continue to deliver first class care. Increasing the size of the unit means a reduction in waiting times for our younger patients visiting A&E, and enhanced privacy for those patients who require it when they are receiving care.”
Dr Jane Evans, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Service Director for Children’s Emergency Medicine said: “This expansion is extremely beneficial for our young patients in Norfolk. The teams involved in this expansion have worked tirelessly in the lead up to its opening, and I’d like to say a massive thank you to all those for making it possible, including Laura Hall who has been instrumental in the expansion and Ian Cunningham and the Serco team who have been truly brilliant in carrying out the building work.”
Dr Evans added: “There’s been a fantastic response in terms of recruiting new members of staff to the unit and we’re pleased to be introducing additional nursing staff, as well as a new play specialist and an additional service director.”
The expansion of the Children’s Emergency Department comes in alignment with the introduction of the UK’s first Older People’s Emergency Department which also opened mid-December.
Dr Frankie Swords, Chief of Division for Medicine at NNUH said: “It’s fantastic to see that our young patients in Norfolk are already seeing the benefits of our newly expanded Children’s Emergency Department. An enhancement of facilities and the increase of treatment areas will allow the clinical team in ED to continue to deliver excellent patient care. This is great news for both patients and staff and I’d like to thank all those involved in opening the new unit.”
If you or someone you know would be interested in an exciting career within the newly expanded Children’s Emergency Department at NNUH, please contact Jane Evans, Service Director for Children’s Emergency Care on 01603 287452.