New £40m urgent and emergency care unit opens

A new £40m urgent and emergency care unit has officially opened at a Merseyside hospital.

Arrowe Park Hospital in Upton, Wirral, has been facing pressure over waiting times in recent years.

Dr Nikki Stephenson, chief medical officer of the trust which runs the hospital, believes the new facility will transform urgent care and help staff meet patient demand, which has doubled since opening 40 years ago.

She said it boasted an urgent treatment centre "for less serious problems that can be addressed by a nurse specialist or a general practitioner" alongside the new emergency department for more serious health problems.

Stevenson said the new development with "vastly improved clinical facilities" will help the staff provide the best care possible for patients who require urgent or emergency care.

She said: "It will create a much better experience for patients, who will be assessed and directed to the healthcare professional or service that best meets their needs."

Janelle Holmes, joint chief executive of the trust, said: "This fantastic facility will transform urgent and emergency care for the people of Wirral when they need it most.

"By bringing services together in one location, we will be able to provide a more seamless experience for patients and ensure people who need urgent or emergency support receive the right care, at the right time and in the right setting."

Robert Wright from Helsby, Cheshire, was in the new emergency unit with his wife who he told BBC Radio Merseyside was under observation for an infection.

He said they visited the old A&E unit on 15 July and it was like "chalk and cheese".

"It was a sweat box against the fridge. It's that vastly different."

Wright added the air conditioning certainly helps.

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