Nicola Hardman, left, and Jean Milner, right, are two key expert colleagues involved in the ongoing development of our new A&E at HRI.

Consultant Microbiologist Nicola and IPC specialist nurse Jean were on the latest walk-round as we enter Week 44 of the project due for completion late next summer/autumn.

They’ve also been to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to pick up learning from the team on their Infectious Diseases Unit. Our new A&E will have an isolation suite with specialist ventilation to help manage patients with confirmed or suspected highly infectious diseases.

All other treatment rooms in the department will be single ones with excellent ventilation and infection control. Learning from the COVID experience in Emergency Departments and national health building guidance has paved the way in the design.

Another new feature is the decontamination room (as opposed to an emergency inflatable tent currently) for cases such as a chemical or biological incident.

Nicola said: “It is very exciting to see the designs come to life, and to know that we’re creating an environment with patient and colleague safety and experience at its very core”.