Overcrowded Romford A&E secures £42m for rebuild

An overcrowded A&E department in east London is to be rebuilt after its NHS trust secured £42m for the work.

The emergency department at Queen's Hospital in Romford opened in 2006 to treat 325 patients a day but regularly sees more than twice that number, according to Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT).

The trust said the rebuild would create dedicated waiting areas, which the department currently lacks, and cut the walk from the hospital entrance to the adult A&E department from 335 steps to about 50.

Interim chief executive Fiona Wheeler called it a "landmark moment" for patients and staff.

"It will put an end to staff working in cramped conditions and create a better clinical environment," she said.

The trust said the new layout would help reduce waiting times and corridor care, where patients are treated in hallways because of a lack of space.

The children's A&E will also be redesigned with a dedicated resuscitation area and the assessment area merged into the main department.

Ruth Green, director of nursing at the hospital, said natural light in the department was "going to change so much".

BHRUT has campaigned for the money for 22 months with the backing of local MPs. The project was originally costed at £35m.

The trust plans to work with health innovation network UCL Partners on a digital system for the new department, but has not said when building work will start.

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