Hospital plans treatment unit to ease A&E pressure

A hospital hopes to tackle an increase in the number of patients attending its emergency department with a separate unit to tackle non-life-threatening emergencies.

A new urgent treatment centre is due to be opened next year at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston to assess patients with emergency illnesses and conditions that are not life-threatening.

Subject to planning permission, work could begin in the autumn with the facility open in spring 2027.

Ben Pritchard-Jones, director of operations at the James Paget, said: "We can help people get the right care in the right place quickly, while easing pressure on the main department, leading to a far better experience for our patients."

The hospital said all patients who attend the emergency department are triaged so those most in need can be prioritised and assessed. However, this can lead to those attending with less urgent conditions having lengthy waits before being seen.

The new centre will allow patients to be seen by a dedicated team with 10 consultation, treatment and observation rooms.

The types of patients the new unit would see includes sprains, deep cuts and burns and illnesses including mild infections.

Hospital chiefs hope the new facility will reduce the number of patients in the main emergency department and allow staff to effectively manage those with serious illnesses and conditions to reduce waiting times.

Pritchard-Jones said: "This is a really important project for all our patients — and improving the way in which we deliver emergency and urgent care.

"The number of people attending our Emergency Department is increasing year-on-year, which can lead to congestion in the department and long waits."

The unit will be open seven days a week from 08:00 BST to 22:00 and is expected to see one third of patients from the hospital's main emergency department.

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