Kingston Hospital has extended an emergency ward in a bid to reduce increasing pressures faced by NHS services.

Surrey Comet:

The ward is opened at Kingston Hospital

The hospital has extended its clinical decision unit to include six more beds, which will help doctors see to patients in need of extensive care rather than taking up space at the main emergency department.

The unit will be open 24/7 and will play a “critical role” in alleviating increasing pressures the hospital faces, a spokesman said.

Dr Fiona Wisniacki, lead for the clinical decision unit, said: “Some patients attending the Emergency Department require a period of further management or we may need to carry out mobility assessments and diagnostic tests to reach a sound clinical decision. 

“We are very pleased to have this new unit. The Clinical Decision Unit provides an appropriate environment for these patients until their assessments are completed so that safe discharge is appropriate.”  

The unit will give patients who require diagnostic tests and treatment a facility where they can be cared for away from the main emergency department

The unit opened to patients on Thursday, November 24.