N&N hospital improvements to take place
Sarah BrealeyMoves will be under way at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital this weekend as the emergency admissions unit is moved and expanded.Sarah Brealey
Moves will be under way at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital this weekend as the emergency admissions unit is moved and expanded.
It is being renamed the acute medical unit to emphasise the fact that its purpose is to send people home where possible, rather than admit them to hospital.
The surgical admissions unit is being moved on to Easton ward in order to give more space for emergency assessment by the hospital's front door. It means some of the cardiology beds currently on Easton ward will be moved elsewhere in the hospital, which will in turn lead to a number of other moves.
Chief executive Anna Dugdale said: 'The intention is that we assess people more quickly and send them home, working on the principle that we only admit them as a last resort. Most people are better off at home.'
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The acute medical unit is also getting more medical and nursing staff to help cope with increase in demand, which shows little sign of reducing. Two new accident and emergency consultants have already started work at the beginning of this month, which means there is now a consultant in A&E until midnight on weekdays and 10pm at weekends.
Mrs Dugdale said: 'That should increase the quality of decision-making and will increase the number of people being sent home. When you have junior staff in A&E they are more likely to decide to admit people.'
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The moves are happening at the weekend because it is a less busy time than during the week. The hospital will try to avoid disruption to patients, but Mrs Dugdale admitted that the weekend 'is going to be challenging'.
