Publish date: 25 November 2024
Building work began in March 2023 following national investment of £58m to provide improved facilities for adults and children requiring emergency care across Portsmouth and the surrounding area. The new department has been designed with and for our communities, to provide patients needing emergency care, a better experience in a more modern and purpose-built environment.
Penny Emerit, Chief Executive at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) said: “We are delighted to open our new Emergency Department which is a much-needed investment to improve the experience of those in our community who need emergency care. The old department had been in use since 1979 and was designed to care for many less people than we now see every day. We are proud of the role we play as a local hospital and hope that you share our pride in the care that we can provide in this fantastic new department.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported this project. Opening the Department today is a major milestone in delivering our plans to improve urgent and emergency care across Portsmouth and the surrounding area.”
- additional space to care for our most unwell patients who need resuscitation support
- more natural light throughout the building, beneficial for our patients and staff
- custom designed areas for care to be delivered, so all patients, however they arrive at the department are assessed quickly and cared for in the most appropriate place
- new signage to keep patients updated on the different stages of their time with us
- observed play area and sensory room in the Children’s Emergency Department
- a Changing Places toilet within the adults’ department entrance, offering extra features to meet the needs of people who may use it
Pete Russell, ED Clinical Director and Consultant, said: “Building Better Emergency Care, the project behind the new department, has always been about more than a building; it’s about everything we do inside and outside of it to provide the best possible care. We are committed to working with our partners, including South Central Ambulance Service and community providers, to provide timely care for our most unwell patients.”
People in need of medical help or advice in Portsmouth and its surrounding areas are still being urged to only use the Emergency Department for life-threatening injuries and conditions.
Kate Hardy, Consultant and Clinical Director for Building Better Emergency Care added, “Emergency Departments are not for minor injuries, but for people needing life-saving care. People from all over the Trust have come together to improve care for our communities and support the design of the new department, something made more significant as for a lot of staff this is their local hospital too. We have designed pathways with colleagues in the community to make it easier to understand how to access the right care when needed. As fantastic as our new facilities are, we hope people will never need to use them. But if you do need it, our teams continue to be here for those who need emergency care.”
The hospital’s current Emergency Department opened in 1979 and since then, demand for urgent and emergency care has grown.
John Knighton, Chief Medical Officer, added: “Our teams are incredibly excited about the opening of this new department and what it means for the care we can provide our most unwell patients. This is a real end-of-an-era moment for our staff with many of them having worked either with or in our current Emergency Department for some years. We are proud of the role we have played in caring within the department for over 40 years and look forward to providing great care in a new more modern space.”
The new building has been designed with the patient journey at its centre to improve the experiences of both patients and staff.
Peter Ridley, PHU Chief Officer, said: “It was extremely important for us to ensure our patients are at the heart of everything we do. Visiting the Emergency Department can be a scary and stressful time, so we have created accessible signage and a clear patient journey to help patients understand what is happening and feel informed on what to expect during their time with us. Thank you to the patient representatives and PHU staff who helped make this a reality.”
Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer of NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “The new Emergency Department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital will provide urgent and emergency care in a modern, high-quality environment for people living in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. It is the culmination of years of planning and hard work and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has played a part in the new Emergency Department opening its’ doors.
“As well as the Emergency Department, which is available for those with life and limb-threatening injuries, local people are also encouraged to access St Mary’s, Gosport and Petersfield urgent treatment centres, their local pharmacy or Healthier Together and NHS 111 online for more minor health concerns.”
You can take a virtual tour of the new facilities with our fly through video.
For more information on the best places to go to seek medical help, visit: www.