Emergency Department opens new state-of-the-art resus area for patients in South Tyneside

Emergency care staff at South Tyneside District Hospital have today begun treating patients in a new state-of-the-art resus area thanks to a major investment in the hospital’s Emergency Department. 

 The new resuscitation area has been completely overhauled to provide a modern, fit-for-purpose environment for patients who are most critically ill.  The facility includes five single resuscitation rooms to provide much more privacy and dignity for patients when they are at their most vulnerable.

Department Manager Julie Russell, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE and Sanjay Kumar, Consultant and Clinical Lead for Emergency Medicine inside one of the new resus rooms.

Previously, the area was an open space where beds were separated only by curtains.  The new set-up includes individual patient rooms providing much improved infection control, and will include smart glass technology, allowing staff to observe patients and have the ability to frost the glass to protect privacy at the flick of a switch.

Now each patient has their own room, with plenty of space for staff to work, making it a much better experience for those being looked after and their loved ones.  The rooms include one extended area which will be used to treat cardiac or trauma patients.

The new resus area is fully integrated with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s electronic patient record (EPR) meaning all clinical staff have access to live, up-to-date patient information at the touch of a button.  The team in South Tyneside can also link up live via video to colleagues at Sunderland Royal Hospital to support the assessment of patients as required.

Consultant and Clinical Lead for Emergency Medicine Dr Sanjay Kumar said:

“Previously we just had curtains between beds, now we have these rooms which are so much nicer for patients and for us too.  The team here absolutely love it, they are so positive about it.  It is better for them to work in and it gives the patients so much more privacy and a better experience during the time they are with us.

“The new facility is much brighter and lighter making it a much nicer space to work in.  I want to say how grateful we are to our management, who have been so supportive of this work, it will make such a difference for staff and patients."

The completion of the £200,000 project marks the latest investment by healthcare leaders in South Tyneside District Hospital. 

Work is continuing to create a new £3 million Critical Care Unit on the ground floor of the hospital which is set to open soon.  The £10 million Integrated Diagnostic Centre will also open early next year, bringing cancer diagnosing PET-CT scans to South Tyneside permanently, in addition to MRI and CT scanners.  A new £2 million endoscopy unit and £800,000 pharmacy were also opened last year.