£9 million investment to transform urgent and emergency care at Pinderfields Hospital | News

The investment will support the relocation and expansion of the Medical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) unit, which will move to a purpose‑designed space directly alongside the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). This co‑location will create a new Acute Medical Floor, improving patient flow, reducing delays and enabling faster clinical decision‑making. It forms a central part of the Trust’s vision for an integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Floor, where patients can receive the right care in the right place, first time.

As part of this transformation, patients arriving through A&E will benefit from a newly developed Acute Receiving Unit (ARU), consistent with national guidance. The ARU will provide rapid access to senior clinicians and a wide range of specialties, ensuring patients are assessed quickly and efficiently. From there, patients will either be admitted to an acute medical ward if needed or receive same‑day treatment within MSDEC. This streamlined model is expected to reduce unnecessary admissions, shorten hospital stays and improve both safety and experience.

To create the space needed for MSDEC’s expansion, several services across the Pinderfields site will move. Outpatient Therapy and Psychological Services will relocate from Gate 3A to a fully refurbished Queen Elizabeth House near the hospital, while Gynaecology and obstetric services will move from Gate 10A to Gate 3A. MSDEC will then occupy the Gate 10A space, placing it directly alongside AMU and forming the new Acute Medical Floor.

The redesign also provides an important opportunity to strengthen maternity and gynaecology care. The Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU) and Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) will gain much-needed additional capacity, alongside new, dedicated support for women experiencing hyperemesis - a severe form of pregnancy-related vomiting that can lead to dehydration and significant weight loss. Antenatal day services will continue across all three Trust sites, with only the Pinderfields location changing. The plans also enable the Trust to explore the development of a new Maternity Assessment Unit, creating more streamlined pathways delivered by a single dedicated team.

Catherine Cotton, Chief Operating Officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said:

This investment represents a major step forward for urgent and emergency care at Pinderfields. By redesigning our pathways and creating modern, purpose‑built environments, we can ensure patients are assessed more quickly, receive safer care and experience fewer delays. This is a transformational programme that will improve care for our communities and support our staff with the facilities they need to deliver the highest standards.

Work to refurbish Queen Elizabeth House will begin in February 2026 and is expected to take around six months. This will be followed by building work at Gates 3A and 10A at Pinderfields Hospital between September and December 2026. The new and improved services are planned to open from December 2026 into early 2027.

Services will continue to run safely throughout the work, with changes carefully planned to minimise disruption for patients and families.