Harrogate District Hospital aims to transform patient care with state-of-the-art new facility
Harrogate Hospital has launched its brand new Acute Medical Unit in time for the challenges of the winter period.
Patients in Harrogate will benefit from faster, safer urgent care after Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) officially opened the new facility this week.
Designed with patients at its core, the AMU at Harrogate District Hospital is designed to speed up access to urgent medical care away from the pressured Emergency Department environment.
Operating 24/7, the AMU will act as a single assessment unit for acutely unwell patients who have been referred by their GP, the Emergency Department or outpatient departments, ensuring every patient is quickly directed to the most appropriate place for their care.
Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are committed to providing the highest levels of healthcare for our patients, and the new AMU will help us to further improve the services we offer by increasing capacity and streamlining urgent care.
“This new, state of the art facility will be the first point of entry for many people referred to our hospital.
"It is important to create a calm environment where assessments and treatments can be carried out swiftly and efficiently, reducing waiting times and supporting staff to deliver the highest standards of care.”
Following assessment by multi-disciplinary team and appropriate tests, patients may then be discharged the same day or transferred to a specialist ward to continue treatment.
By focusing on same-day assessment, treatment and discharge wherever clinically appropriate, the AMU will reduce pressures on beds and wards.
Occupying the space formerly known as Littondale Ward, the new AMU will delivers a 30% increase in bed capacity on the hospital’s previous assessment unit.
The 32-bed unit comprises several bays, five en-suite side rooms and three medically enhanced care beds for higher dependency patients.
The AMU is the latest development to improve and speed up patient care at Harrogate Hospital.
In late 2023, HDFT opened ED2, which has already reduced waiting times by streaming patients with minor injuries and illness on a separate queue from those with more serious conditions.