Aintree’s UCAT on track to offer new facilities for A&E patients

Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool has today (Thursday 1 September) opened the second phase of its £35 million Urgent Care and Trauma Centre (UCAT).

The first patients are now attending a new centre for the treatment of minor injuries, including assessment unit and observation ward, in the hospital’s new Emergency Department.

Steve Warburton, Aintree’s Chief Executive, and Pam Peel, Lead Governor, joined Emergency Department staff to launch the centre.

Steve said: “We are proud to have one of the best Emergency Departments in the country and the new facilities will enable us to continue providing high quality care in an attractive modern clinical environment which is great news for our patients.”

The new centre marks the successful completion of the second phase of Aintree’s flagship £35 million Urgent Care and Trauma Centre project, a state-of-the-art two storey building that when finished will contain the hospital’s Emergency Department, Major Trauma and Critical Care services.

The new centre treats minor injuries and provides a range of assessment, observation and therapeutic care alongside the major trauma and resuscitation services which opened last year.

A new 20 bed Frailty Assessment Unit will also provide specialist care for frail and elderly patients in the centre, helping them to avoid unnecessary hospital stays and maintain independence at home.

The new centre has been designed to ensure a much improved patient experience with a range of modern observation wards and individual rooms including 13 ‘See and Treat’ treatment rooms for walk-in patients.  There is also a large, spacious waiting area for patients, friends and families with a coffee shop.

Steve added: “The UCAT Centre has already proved itself to be one of the best emergency facilities in the country since it opened last year, supporting the hospital’s role as the regional major trauma centre treating the most seriously  injured patients in the North West.

“Our contractors BAM Construction have worked closely with clinical staff to complete each stage of the work which has taken place without having to close any departments or affecting patient care thanks to the careful planning.”

The third and final phase of the project is the creation of a new 24 bed Critical Care Unit in the first floor of the UCAT Centre and this is on schedule to be completed this winter as planned.