Full planning permission granted for Grimsby’s new A&E Department
Full planning permission for the Grimsby’s new A&E department at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital has been granted.
The improvements include a larger waiting area to cope with high demand and social distancing requirements, a play area for younger patients, a dedicated ambulance bay, more parking spaces and more cubicles, designed to help manage surges in patient numbers.
Director of Estates and Facilities, Jug Johal, the Senior Responsible Officer, said: “I’m delighted that we have now got over this final hurdle in the planning stages of the programme and work can start in earnest to bring these new facilities online.
“Our number one priority is to give you the best possible care and these works will give us the space, equipment and facilities we need to do that, as well as reducing waiting times in A&E and making faster diagnosis by directing patients to specialist clinicians more quickly.
“This is hugely important to us and, to ensure we get this right, we have worked closely with clinical colleagues throughout the design process.”
The developments – which are also taking place at Scunthorpe General Hospital – will also include Acute Assessment Units (AAUs), which will be staffed by doctors specialising in a range of illnesses and conditions.
Grimsby’s new A&E Department will also include a new single-storey decked public car park.
This will sit directly in front of the main entrance to the hospital, and will offer 122 spaces on the ground floor and 112 on the upper floor.
Mr Johal added: “The new decked public parking area will not only mean that no parking provision is lost as result of the improvement works we’re carrying out at our Grimsby site but that we can offer modern, sustainable facilities such as charging points for electric vehicles.
“When the works have been completed, there will be 33 additional parking spaces available on the site.
“Unfortunately, until then, there will be fewer spaces available for patients and visitors to use and, as a temporary measure, we are encouraging all those who are able to make alternative transport arrangements to do so.
“I appreciate that this will not be possible for some patients but ask that those who are able to use public transport or get dropped off give priority to those who don’t have this option available.
“I would also ask that you consider our neighbours and avoid parking on residential streets around the hospital site.”
Take a virtual tour of Grimsby’s new A&E Department here:
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