Kingston Hospital opened the doors to its new accident and emergency department at the weekend. Comet chief reporter Helen Barnes went to take a look round and hear the views of patients and staff.

The queues at Kingston Hospital's casualty department may not have changed. But one of the first things that strikes patients entering the new A&E is a reassuring sense of calmness.

The £6-million, state-of-the-art A&E department officially opened at 3am on Saturday morning, following a two-hour shutdown of the old facility.

Bold colours have been used throughout the department to make a sweeping statement about the future of the NHS. Gone are the dated creams and blues, to be replaced with vibrant reds and greens in communal areas and more muted tones in the resuscitation bay.

The colours, although slightly controversial, were specifically chosen to create a sense of space in the department, and also to help direct patients around the wards.

Colours on the walls are translated to patterns on the floors directing patients to the X-ray room, the childrens A&E and the minor injuries and major trauma wards.

Designers also thought about the use of colours as an aid for the visually impaired.

Contrasting colours have been used on the doors and the rails in the corridors as a guide for patients with seeing difficulties.

Hospital chiefs have admitted that they have experienced teething problems since the A&E which is twice the size of the old department opened on Saturday.

When I toured the A&E on Tuesday, although the wards were short-staffed and coping with an influx of casualties, both staff and patients seemed relaxed.

Staff enthused about the new unit. The only real complaint was that they did not yet know where all the equipment was located.

Daphne Chapman, manager for clinical care at the unit, said: "There is a hospital wide acknowledgement that A&E staff have had to work in very difficult, cramped conditions for some time.

"This is a massive improvement, both for the patients and the staff. It is still very busy, nothing stops that, but the whole thing has been thought through as to how we take patients through the department.

"Nobody likes going to hospital, but if we can help to make the experience more relaxing and reassuring then that can only be a good thing."

Patients arriving at the A&E will see a triage nurse, after registering at reception, so that their illness or injury can be assessed before being directed to the relevant ward on the department. Emergency cases are immediately passed to the major trauma area.

One of the benefits of the new department is the amount of space that has been created for patients, and the improved levels of privacy.

Computers have been installed in the major trauma areas, so that staff can instantly call up X-ray results digitally, and nursing staff will treat minor injuries to free up doctors time.

The A&E has also been fitted with a decontamination room to cope with minor emergencies. But it is not equipped for major cases.

Sister Fiona Holley said: "Having a new department doesnt eliminate all of our problems, but it does make life a little bit easier."

The facilities are just so much better for us. The patients havent changed and we still get the same number of people coming in with the same illnesses. However, we have more equipment and new equipment, which is making life easier.

Nurse Karen Chapman, who has worked at Kingstons A&E for 13 years, said: "I think it is wonderful compared with what we have been working in. It is going to take a bit of time to get used to where everything is, but once it is all up and running properly it will be better."

"There is a much more tranquil atmosphere here, even though it is busy. It is a much nicer working environment and people are less stressed patients, relatives, staff."

Mum Amanda White visited the old A&E in July and returned to the hospital on Tuesday with her 15-month-old son James.

She was impressed by the modern look of the department and the improvements for patients.

She said: "It is very different to the old A&E. It is very child friendly and there are lots of toys and bright colours to keep the children happy, because they can get a bit fed up."

The service is still the same, the staff do everything they can to help.

By the end of the year modern art work, created by final year students at Roehampton Institute, will be displayed in the department.

December 14, 2001 14:30