Marking the completion of building work on a new Children's Emergency Unit

Today, we celebrated the completion of building work on our new Children's Emergency Unit, with five children from Shaw Ridge Primary School who joined us to cut the ribbon on the new development. 

This is the next stage in our Integrated Front Door programme, following the recent opening of our new Emergency Department. The Children’s Emergency Unit is a purpose-built facility that will improve our urgent and emergency care service for under 18s, and provides the capacity for the integration of our Children’s Emergency Department with our Paediatric Assessment Unit. 

The new unit will have 13 cubicles, two high acuity bays and one resuscitation bay, a baby and breastfeeding room, a sensory play room for children with neurodiversities and a wellbeing room for younger patients arriving in mental health crisis. 

The team worked with young people across Swindon to understand how the new Children’s Emergency Unit should best meet their needs, and held design workshops at local primary schools and youth clubs.

 
They also worked with young people with learning disabilities and other additional needs to ensure spaces, including the sensory room, were well equipped and the environment was bright, colourful and welcoming. 

A huge thank you to all the staff who have worked so hard to bring the first ever Children’s Emergency Unit to Swindon, and who will continue to work with partners across the system to ensure our younger patients get the very best care. 

The Children’s Emergency Unit will open to patients in the coming weeks.