King Edward VII Hospital’s new Acute Care Wing will be providing more privacy than that is currently afforded for emergency patients.

“Patient privacy is a hallmark of the Emergency Department in the new Acute Care Wing,” said a hospital spokesperson.

“A private waiting room with seating for 15 people and two wheelchairs will keep patients away from the main hospital traffic. Access to other hospital services required by emergency department patients will take place via dedicated patient service elevators and patient-only corridors.”

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) chairman Jonathan Brewin added: “We recognise it can be very unpleasant at the moment for very unwell or injured patients to be wheeled through public areas in order to reach x-ray, ultrasound, and CT or MRI services.

“The new Emergency Department is 13,437 square feet with 15 fully equipped treatment rooms. Patients will enjoy the privacy this provides over the current, curtained sectioning“

BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said: “We are proud of the improvements the new facility affords us in our delivery of care to the public.

“The resuscitation rooms are good example of this. The new Emergency Department has a dual trauma/resuscitation (resus) room which allows teams to work on two patients in the same room a benefit in many accident cases.

“There are two additional trauma/resus rooms one of which is equipped for paediatric cases.”

Ambulances will be able to rush patients directly into resus rooms in emergencies involving those suffering from a heart attack, stroke or bad road accident.

All rooms will be equipped for resuscitation should a more stable patient suddenly deteriorate.

“Also of note is that two of the 15 assessment rooms are negative pressure isolation rooms,” added the spokesperson. “Having the negative pressure increases infection control by minimising the spread of disease.”