Hopes A&E extension will process patients quicker
BBCA hospital criticised for casualty waiting times said it hoped an extension to the A&E department would allow it to process patients more effectively.
Work will be carried out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, to provide more waiting room space and extra parking for ambulances.
The hospital said the plans, approved by the local council, would "help alleviate pressure on core A&E facilities".
Last month, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) warned there had been "significant shortfalls in the standard of care" at the hospital.
Shaun Whitmore/BBCWell-known for its ceilings being held up by props because of crumbling concrete, work on building a new hospital at the site is expected to start in 2028.
But the existing hospital has recently received a number of critical reports.
Last year it was rated the worst performing in the country, and two weeks ago the CQC said it had found a decline in "safety and quality of care".
Inspectors also said more needed to be done to reduce waiting times in urgent and emergency care.
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The plans approved by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council include a small extension to the emergency department to provide extra waiting room space, more spaces for ambulances to park, and a refurbished entrance.
Hospital bosses said the "modest in scale changes" would allow more people to be checked in and seen – "greatly improving the throughput of patients and alleviating pressure on ambulance waiting times".
The hospital said other improvements planned for the site in future included altering the layout of the same day and paediatric emergency departments, along with creating a new urgent treatment centre.
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