• Royal Bolton Hospital will be transforming it’s Emergency Department throughout 2025
• Plans include a new ambulance handover area and a new modern waiting room to help with demand
• Emergency Department will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout building work

Royal Bolton Hospital is unveiling plans to transform it’s Emergency Department to improve patient experience and create a modern space that’s fit for the future.

£1.74m in funding will be used to reconfigure the Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre to help meet national targets for 4-hour quality standard and ambulance handovers.

The project, which gets underway from Monday 14 April, is designed to keep patients moving through the Emergency Department.

Once the transformation work is complete, the hospital will have a new dedicated ambulance handover area, an additional rapid handover bay and a newly-designed and modern waiting room to support new ways of working to manage rising demand for services.

Rae Wheatcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

We have made a number of changes to our Emergency Department over the years, but we know our population’s needs and the way people access care are changing faster than ever before.

“This major transformation will allow us to create a modern healthcare environment that is better for both our patients and staff, and will help us to make sure our sickest patients get to where they need to be as quickly and safely as possible.

“Throughout the building work our Emergency Department will remain open twenty-fours a day, seven days a week. If you have a life or limb-saving emergency, please continue to use our services to get the urgent help you need.

“As always, for any minor illness or injuries, please consider using our Urgent Treatment Centre, your local GP or pharmacy. If you’re unsure about where you need to be, NHS 111 online or by phone can provide useful advice.

Accessing the Emergency Department

Whilst works are underway a new temporary reception will be set up in a modular building outside the pedestrian entrance to the Emergency Department.

People are asked to attend with a maximum of one visitor to help manage reduced capacity in the waiting room during construction.

As with any major work, there will be noise disruption as work to improve the building progresses.

Signs and digital screens are in place to help direct people to where they need to be.

Drop-off area

The temporary reception will be situated directly outside the pedestrian entrance, limiting the number of spaces available to drop-off patients.

People are advised, if they can, to drop-off patients at the Main Entrance of the hospital, which is a short walk to the Emergency Department.

Accessing urgent care services throughout the work

The transformation work is expected to take 27 weeks to complete.

Throughout this time, patients will still be able to access all emergency care services as usual, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The easiest way to access services is via the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), which is equipped to deal with both illnesses and minor injuries.

People may be referred to the UTC if they attend the Emergency Department with a minor condition, where they will be offered a pre-booked appointment. Appointments are also available by calling 111.

Please arrive within 10 minutes of your allocated appointment. Due to pressures, we cannot always guarantee you will be seen immediately.