Patient care facilities expand at NNUH as part of winter preparations

One of the major steps towards extra capacity at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital this winter will be the installation of a Discharge Suite in a new, high quality, modular building which will be installed by the end of the year.

Richard Parker, NNUH Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are improving the service to patients by providing a better experience when they leave hospital with a dedicated Discharge Suite with its own staffing, refreshments and comfortable facilities.

“Installing the new unit is part of our winter preparations to boost our capacity and improve patient flow which will enable us to transfer patients from the Emergency Department to the wards in a timely way.”

The Discharge Suite will operate seven days a week and accommodate up to 28 patients at a time as they get ready to leave hospital. There will be a comfortable seating area, plus eight beds for patients who may need a bed to support their ongoing recovery. Patients will move to the new unit on the day of discharge, providing an enhanced environment whilst they wait for medication to take away, transport and any other last minute arrangements which may be required before going home.

Located in the Jenny Lind car park at NNUH, the new facility will link to the main hospital building. In the construction phase the Jenny Lind car park will be closed to visitors and patients, and those who can are being encouraged to use the Costessey Park and Ride service.