Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the new Emergency Department at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital today (Friday, March 7).
Run by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, the new facility is already improving emergency care for local communities since it opened to patients in November 2024.
During the visit, HRH met many staff working across the department to talk about how the new facility (designed by staff and patients), has improved their working lives and patient care.
Penny Emerit, chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Princess Royal to officially open our new Emergency Department and recognise the incredible work our teams are doing to improve the experience and outcomes for our patients.
“The new department has been designed with and for our communities. Together with our partners across the health and care system we are now able to provide patients with a better experience in a more modern and purpose-built environment.”
“The official opening is an opportunity for us to thank everyone who has been involved and recognise the care they provide every day to our communities.”
The Princess Royal also had the opportunity to see the new facilities in place including additional resus bays for children, double the resus capacity for adults, a new CT scanner and an accredited Changing Places facility.
Since it opened to patients, the department has seen more than 38,000 people attend with 14,000 arriving by ambulance and 23,000 people walking into the service.
Dr Pete Russell, clinical director for ED, said: “The department has been incredibly busy, and the new environment and care pathways are helping us ensure patients are still receiving the best possible care.
“The separate entrances and waiting areas have offered our patients more privacy and the single rooms have helped us improve infection control standards. Our dedicated chair areas are supporting patients who can be comfortably and safely cared for out of a bed, the observed play area and sensory room in the Children’s Emergency Department has offered young people an environment to support their overall health and wellbeing.”
When speaking to staff from across the hospital, The Princess Royal heard about how the new pathways are helping patients receive timely care, in the right place, first time.
Dr Kate Hardy, clinical director for building better emergency care, said: “Staff have been working across the hospital to improve our emergency and urgent care services and we are already seeing improvements. The new patient pathways are supporting us to manage our patients where they receive the care they need and where possible prioritising care at home. We will continually look at how this can be improved alongside our partners to ensure everyone can receive timely, high-quality care.”
To commemorate the occasion, HRH unveiled a plaque, marking the official opening. When leaving the site, children from the local Tops Day Nurseries were on hand to wave The Princess Royal off with handmade flags and crowns.