We’re working with our ambulance service colleagues to introduce an Ambulance Receiving Centre (ARC) at Queen’s Hospital. This will help reduce delays in ambulance crews handing over patients to our Emergency Department (ED) team caused by Covid-19 pressures.

You may have already seen white tents appear at the back of our hospital; these are to provide a covered walkway to the ARC, which will be based in our Medical Records department.

Once opened, the ARC will allow ambulance patients assessed by paramedics to be brought in and cared for safely until we have space for them in our ED. This will ensure patients do not need to be in ambulances any longer than necessary and releases ambulance crews to attend to other emergencies more quickly.

Fitted with cubicles for patients on trollies, the area will be a much more comfortable place for our patients to be cared for safely.

Look out for more updates on when it will be opening.

Pictured above are patient bays in our ARC.