New Entrance to Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital
09/07/2012
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is advising people of new access arrangements to the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill.
As part of the extension and refurbishment of the Department, the only entrance for patients, carers and the general public is now through the main Emergency Department door at the Monaghan Row side of the hospital. Public access is not possible through the main hospital.
The Trust is also reminding people that the GP Out of Hours Service can only be accessed through the main hospital entrance and there is no public access from the Emergency Department.
Daisy Hill Emergency Department treats over 36,000 people each year and this is projected to rise to 50,000 over the next ten years. From January to March this year, the number of people attending the Department increased by almost 20%.
Director of Acute Services for the Trust Dr Gillian Rankin says: “The Emergency Department at Daisy Hill was originally built to cater for half the number of patients who currently attend, so we have greatly welcomed this opportunity to expand and improve our facilities to cope with growing demand. The first phase was completed last autumn and doubled the size of the Department. The second phase, which completed in June includes more treatment areas, improved treatment facilities for children and high standard isolation facilities to comply with recommendations in relation to infection control.
“We are now currently developing plans for further improvements to the Department including; a new central nurses station; additional offices and a relatives’ room. These plans will also include an upgrade to the waiting area which is subject to continual wear and tear and unfortunately sometimes vandalism.
Dr Rankin continues: “The new access arrangement to the Emergency Department will improve facilities to isolate a patient if needed, increase patient privacy and streamline flows in order that staff can provide the best possible care.
“We want to raise awareness amongst the public of the new arrangement before they come to the hospital so that they can quickly access the Department without having to be redirected.”