Romford A&E gets £42m for long-overdue rebuild

The emergency department at Queen's Hospital opened in 2006 and was built to treat 325 patients daily, but it regularly handles more than 650, the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) said. The trust has campaigned for the money for 22 months with backing from local MPs.

The rebuild will create dedicated waiting areas, which the department currently lacks, and reduce the walk from the main entrance to the adult A&E from 335 steps to about 50. The trust said the new layout would help reduce waiting times and corridor care, where patients are treated in hallways because of space constraints.

Interim chief executive Fiona Wheeler called the funding a "landmark moment" for patients and staff. "It will put an end to staff working in cramped conditions and create a better clinical environment," she said.

The children's A&E will also be redesigned with a dedicated resuscitation area, and the assessment area will be merged into the main department. The project was originally costed at £35 million. The trust plans to work with health innovation network UCL Partners on a digital system for the new department but has not said when building work will start.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Overcrowded A&E departments lead to long waits and corridor care, directly affecting patient safety and staff morale.
The £42m investment signals a commitment to upgrading aging NHS infrastructure in high-demand areas.
The rebuild could become a template for similar emergency department modernisation projects across the country.

Background

Queen's Hospital opened in east London in 2006. Its A&E was built for 325 daily attendances, but patient numbers have more than doubled since then. BHRUT has been pushing for funding for nearly two years with local MP support. The project's cost has risen from an original estimate of £35 million to the £42 million now secured.

Key Perspectives

NHS Trust: BHRUT says the rebuild will end cramped conditions, create better patient flow, and reduce corridor care, improving both the working environment and patient experience. Patients and staff: Both groups are expected to benefit from shorter waits and a more spacious, functional department, according to the trust's interim chief executive. Local MPs: They backed the trust's campaign and helped secure the money, though details of their role are not specified in the announcement.

What to Watch

A construction start date has not been set; delays could push costs higher.
Whether the £42m budget is sufficient, given the original £35m estimate and rising inflation in construction.
Post-rebuild data on waiting times and corridor care incidents to measure the project's impact.

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedFiona Wheeler called the funding a “landmark moment” for patients and staff.BBC London: “Interim chief executive Fiona Wheeler called it a "landmark moment" for patients and staff.”
SupportedWheeler said the project would end cramped working conditions for staff and create a better clinical environment.BBC London: “"It will put an end to staff working in cramped conditions and create a better clinical environment," she said.”
Not in the sourcesThe rebuild is “long-overdue.”
SupportedQueen's Hospital secured £42 million for an A&E rebuild.BBC London: “An overcrowded A&E department in east London is to be rebuilt after its NHS trust secured £42m for the work.”
SupportedThe emergency department opened in 2006.BBC London: “The emergency department at Queen's Hospital in Romford opened in 2006 to treat 325 patients a day”
SupportedThe department was built to treat 325 patients daily and regularly handles more than 650.BBC London: “opened in 2006 to treat 325 patients a day but regularly sees more than twice that number”
SupportedThe trust campaigned for the funding for 22 months with backing from local MPs.BBC London: “BHRUT has campaigned for the money for 22 months with the backing of local MPs.”
SupportedThe rebuild will cut the walk from the hospital entrance to adult A&E from 335 steps to about 50.BBC London: “cut the walk from the hospital entrance to the adult A&E department from 335 steps to about 50.”
SupportedThe trust says the new layout will help reduce waiting times and corridor care.BBC London: “The trust said the new layout would help reduce waiting times and corridor care, where patients are treated in hallways because of a lack of space.”
SupportedThe children's A&E will be redesigned with a dedicated resuscitation area.BBC London: “The children's A&E will also be redesigned with a dedicated resuscitation area”
SupportedThe assessment area will be merged into the main department.BBC London: “the assessment area merged into the main department.”