THE new accident and emergency department at Worcester hospital is now open and seeing patients.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital's new £35 million A&E is now open and welcoming its first patients through the doors today.

The aim of NHS bosses is for the new emergency department to address pressures which have led to patients waiting in corridors or in ambulances before they can be admitted, meaning increased waiting times.

Worcester News: INSIDE: A view from inside the new A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester INSIDE: A view from inside the new A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester (Image: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust)

These photos show the outside and inside of the new A&E department in Worcester. They show a spacious, airy waiting area with a laminated floor and plenty of natural light and bays for ambulances to use to assist with the transfer of patients.

A spokesperson for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm that we’re seeing patients in the new emergency department at Worcestershire Royal Hospital now.

Worcester News: BUSY: Ambulances outside Worcester's new A&E BUSY: Ambulances outside Worcester's new A&E (Image: Newsquest)

"We’re keen to emphasise though that the public should continue to contact NHS 111, either online or by calling 111, to receive free urgent care advice before attending our Emergency Department, and to only use 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

Worcester News: NEW: One of the patient rooms at the new A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester NEW: One of the patient rooms at the new A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester (Image: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust)

"Where people do need urgent care, they are encouraged to choose from all of the services that are available, including their local pharmacy, GPs, and Minor Injuries Units."

Pressure on A&E and complications of the size and layout of A&E have been an issue the acute trust has attempted to address. The Royal was built in 2002 when it was estimated that up to 45,000 patients would be admitted to the emergency department every year.

However, by 2019/20, the number of attendees had risen to 75,000 and continued to increase during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2019, a focused Care Quality Commission inspection found urgent and emergency services to be inadequate, with patients waiting too long for treatment that frequently took place on corridors.