Hospital's new emergency department due to open

The new Emergency Department in Portsmouth will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

A hospital that has previously faced lengthy waiting times and long ambulance queues is opening its new A&E later.

Promising a "better experience" for patients, the emergency department at Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital opens at 08:00 GMT.

It replaces the old department, which had been in use since the late 1970s and had a smaller capacity.

Hospital bosses called the multimillion-pound unit a "much-needed investment" due to increasing demand for emergency care.

Patients who do not need a bed can be treated in dedicated chair areas

In recent years, the QA has been criticised for having long waits to access emergency care, with ambulances sometimes queuing outside A&E during high demand.

In 2023, a 93-year-old man was forced to wait in an ambulance for more than 14 hours.

A number of critical incidents were also declared by the QA when its wards and emergency department became full.

It meant people were temporarily directed to other hospitals in a bid to ease what Portsmouth Hospitals University (PHU) NHS Trust described as "intolerable delays".

Costing £58m, the new unit will have better access for ambulances, with a covered handover area, as well as a designated drop-off zone for patients.

The adult's unit has a Changing Places toilet which has more space and equipment for those who may need additional help

The department has also been designed with extra space for patients who may need resuscitating.

It has separate waiting areas for adults and children and more single rooms for better infection control.

Construction began in March 2023, and the building was designed to have more natural light throughout to benefit patients and staff.

It would provide a better experience for patients needing emergency care in a more modern and purpose-built environment, according to PHU.

The children’s emergency department has an observed play area and sensory room

Penny Emerit, PHU's chief executive said: “We are delighted to open our new Emergency Department which is a much-needed investment to improve the experience of those in our community who need emergency care.

"The old department had been in use since 1979 and was designed to care for many less people than we now see every day," she added.

When should I go to A&E?

Portsmouth residents in need of medical help are still being urged to only use the Emergency Department for life-threatening injuries and conditions.

Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children, according to the hospital's website.

For adults these include:

• signs of a heart attack

• signs of a stroke

• heavy bleeding

• seizures

For children these include:

• seizures

• choking

• heavy bleeding

• severe injuries

You can find more information on when to call 999 on the NHS website.