In July 2022, the new Urgent Treatment Centre was opened on the Great Western Hospital site, which marked the first phase of the urgent and emergency care expansion. 

Designed with input from patients and staff, the UTC is inclusive and accessible for all; with the Trust’s first ever changing places facility for children and adults with disabilities, block colour pallets for patients with dementia, lowered reception desk access for wheelchair users and a sky ceiling to bring the outside, in.

Now, efforts are focused on expanding the Emergency Department, and relocating a number of other services, including assessment units, to create an improved and more joined-up urgent and emergency care service.

This new emergency ‘front door’ will also have a new Children’s Emergency Unit, which will combine the current Children’s Emergency Department and Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU).

The new urgent and emergency care expansion will bring together a new large modern Emergency Department, a much more capable Same Day Emergency Care facility, and our new Children’s Emergency Unit, all in one big space.

All of these services will also link directly with the Urgent Treatment Centre, so that patients can easily move between services to receive the right care depending on their clinical needs.

Expanding Same Day Emergency Care will reduce admissions and shorten length of stay. The co-location of services will also ensure a more rapid discharge for patients who do not need admitting to a ward, and quicker handover times for ambulance crews so they can get back on the road. 

Moving some services from other areas of the hospital, such as the Paediatric Assessment Unit currently located on the second floor, to the ground floor will also free up space for more clinical activity or inpatient beds.