NHS Western Isles to hold open day for public to visit the newly modernised Emergency Department

The Isle of Lewis is now home to a state-of-the-art new Emergency Department (ED), following the completion of a major £1million refurbishment project on Monday (May 19).

Temporary changes in access remain in place at present as work to relocate back to the department are underway. The temporary Emergency Department remains at the other side of the hospital main reception, in the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) until the Emergency Department reopens on June 2. The Acute Assessment Unit will remain in the Day Surgery Unit (level 2) in Western Isles Hospital until the AAU reopens in its original location on June 9.

The project, which started on February 13, and has taken just over 13 weeks, has resulted in improved availability of clinical space and has increased the number of resuscitation spaces from one to three (with one of the resuscitation spaces being dual purpose and can also be used as two treatment rooms). The project has also resulted in a fully, up to date, modern ventilation throughout the department, which ensures 10 air changes per hour, and includes a new nurse call system to improve safety and patient care.

A ‘drop-in’ open day will be held before the Emergency Department re-opens for members of the public and NHS staff to visit the new department to see the work that has been undertaken.

The open day will be held on Friday, May 30, from 10am – 3pm. Where possible, we would ask those visiting to park off-site or car share as parking on site is limited.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the new facilities. It was clear that we needed to expand our resuscitation room facilities and we have gone from having one such room to being able to have three, which provides our staff with more space to care for the most urgent patients and more appropriate facilities. Staff have been involved in planning the modernisation of the unit from the outset, to ensure it meets the needs of the service, and they are looking forward to moving back into the refurbished space.

“I’d like to thank the staff involved for ensuring this process has gone so smoothly, which is all down to excellent planning, organisation, delivery by the contractors, and to the public and patients for their patience and understanding during the refurbishment work, which did involve some unavoidable disruption and changes to access arrangements.

“We would encourage members of the community to come and visit their new Emergency Department on the open day on May 30, so that they can see for themselves the improvement that this investment has made to our local facility.”

He added: “We would remind everyone that the new Emergency Department does not reopen for service until June 2, so access to the ED is still in the current location in the Acute Assessment Unit for those who need to access it.”

Emergency Department Manager/Emergency Nurse Practitioner, Susan Macaulay, also stated: “Having worked in the Western Isles Emergency Department for 27 years, I can confidently say that the transformation of our Emergency Department infrastructure and capabilities is the most impressive change I have witnessed. The new facility is almost unrecognisable, featuring a modern clinical environment, improved patient care areas with the latest technology and equipment. The Emergency Department staff are delighted with the refurbishment and looking forward to working and providing care in this new modern facility. This investment will streamline and significantly enhance emergency care provision to our community for many years to come.

“I’d like to thank all involved; the architect, estates and contractors who interpreted our vision and needs, All NHS Western Isles staff and volunteers who assisted in the logistics of temporary relocation, the Emergency Department staff who continued to a provide emergency care despite this disruption and patients for their understanding during this period.”