WORK has begun on improving Ysbyty Gwynedd’s emergency department.

Construction has started to re-shape the A&E department to help increase capacity and improve the environment for patients and staff.

In February, Cabinet secretary Vaughan Gething approved £13.89 million funding for improvements to emergency and urgent care services at the Gwynedd hospital.

Construction work started last month on the new ambulance entry outside the department which will be followed by work inside the department in three phases over two years.

The improvements will include a single point of entry to the department, three triage rooms, a four-bay resuscitation area plus a separate isolation bay with external access, eight cubicles plus two treatment rooms, eight chairs in minor injuries, an assessment unit including relatives’ waiting room, and paediatrics facilities which will include three assessment rooms with dedicated waiting rooms.

Matron Lyn Roberts said the improvements are going to make “vast improvements to patient care and the working environment for staff”.

She said: “The current emergency department is too small and is not designed to meet the requirements of modern clinical practice.

“The new department will provide us with a lot more facilities to help us manage all the safeguarding needs that patients present. This will not only benefit patients, but will also benefit our staff. The working environment is going to be transformed and massively improved.

“Part of the work includes a new staff room, shower room and changing facilities which will help the team and make them feel more valued.

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