£8m A&E Expansion

AN expansion of Southend’s A&E department is set to begin, with the aim of improving care and reducing waiting lists.

The Department of Health and Social Care has agreed to fund the 8m scheme at Southend University Hospital.

“I am absolutely delighted that we have been given this funding,” said acting chief executive Hannah Coffey.

“It allows us to remodel our emergency department, providing a bigger and better unit that works for our community.”

Newly released NHS statistics revealed that over one-third of Accident and Emergency (A&E) patients at Mid and South Essex hospitals did not receive attention within the designated four-hour timeframe.

The start date for work to commence is unconfirmed, although planning documents suggest it will begin later this year.

Conservative MP for Southend West, Anna Firth, said: “I am delighted to hear the plans for the long-awaited hospital extension have finally been approved.

“It is my hope that this redevelopment will address these issues and ensure the hard-working staff at Southend Hospital are able to continue the fantastic work they are already doing.

“I hope to bring the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to Southend Hospital soon to show her first hand the brilliant work being done by all.”

Alongside an extension, the project involves a new paediatric entrance, new emergency department entrance, improvements to ambulance parking with additional bays, new disabled parking bays, adjustments to existing car park layout and landscaping works.

Aspokesperson for the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust said: “Southend has one of the smallest capacities of all the emergency department across the Trust, making its expansion especially important.

“The scheme is an important, much-needed modernisation project, that is vital to help us develop a better and more efficient department that is fit for the needs of our growing population.

“The phased extension will see additional capacity, to support more rapid assessment, treatment and resuscitation bays. It will also provide more space for emergency care, improve ambulance handover times and help meeting the growing demand of the ED of Southend Hospital. This will support faster ambulance handover.”

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