£2.2m same day care unit to be set up at hospital
ANEW £2.2million same day emergency care unit will be opened at Macclesfield Hospital.
East Cheshire NHS Trust says it is investing the money to help patient flow and enable better progression of care.
The new unit will operate separately from the emergency department for those who have already been diagnosed by their GP or via NHS 111 to be fast-tracked to the right specialist.
It will also help with infection control and Covid social distancing measures.
Work has now started on the unit, which is located adjacent to the emergency department on the hospital site and is due for completion by December 2020.
Doctor Tom Bartram, emergency department specialist at East Cheshire NHS Trust said, “Our patients will benefit as they will be seen by specialist clinicians outside of the emergency department which will reduce the length of their hospital stay.”
“The same day emergency care unit will create a more streamlined and efficient process for staff and patients alike, as well as helping with infection control whilst the hospital has reduced capacity due to social ures.”
East Cheshire NHS Trust Chief Operating Officer, Simon Goff, said, “This investment is a really positive development for the hospital and the patients that we care for. The new unit will give us the additional space and capacity required to treat same day patients swiftly and allow them to go home faster.”
NORMAL parking charges for patients and visitors at Macclesfield District General Hospital will
distancing measbe reinstated from September 14.
Payments had been temporarily suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.
East Cheshire NHS Trust says it is now working to restore normal services so are reinstating the usual patient charges in line with neighbouring trusts.
A trust spokesman said: “Please make your patients aware that all parking rules will apply including allocated blue badge bays and automatic number plate recognition cameras from this date.”
The hospital allows up to 30 minutes free of charge for drop-offs and pick-ups.
Current tariffs are: up to four hours £3.50, four to 12 hours £6, seven day ticket £12.
Signage will be placed in the car parks reminding people that charges will apply.