Transforming Urgent and Emergency Care at Pinderfields Hospital

We’re making a major investment in patient care, having secured £9 million from NHS England to enhance our Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) services at Pinderfields Hospital.

This significant funding will enable the relocation of the Medical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) unit, improving patient experience and easing pressure on the Emergency Department.

What changes are happening?

To make this possible:

• Therapy and Psychological Services will move from Gate 3A to a fully refurbished Queen Elizabeth Therapies and Rehabilitation Centre (Queen Elizabeth House) near Pinderfields (Queen Elizabeth Road, Eastmoor, Wakefield, WF1 4AA)

• Gynaecology services will move from Gate 10A to Gate 3A

• MSDEC will relocate to Gate 10A, next to the Acute Medical Unit (AMU), forming part of a new Acute Medical Floor

 

Why is MSDEC moving?
Co-locating MSDEC with AMU will create an Acute Medical Floor, improving patient flow, reducing delays and enabling faster clinical decision-making. This supports our vision of an integrated Urgent and Emergency Care service, where patients receive the right care in the right place, first time. 

 
What is the Medical Acute Receiving Unit (MARU)?

In line with national guidance, patients arriving via A&E will be assessed within a new Medical Acute Receiving Unit (MARU), with rapid access to senior clinicians and a range of specialties. This will help streamline patient journeys and reduce unnecessary admissions.

From the MARU, patients will either:

• be admitted to an acute medical ward, or

• receive same-day treatment in MSDEC

 

What does this mean for patients and staff?

• Patients: faster, safer care and clearer pathways

• Staff: modern facilities and more efficient ways of working

• The Trust: reduced pressure on A&E and improved alignment with national standards 

 

Maternity and gynaecology improvements

These changes also create opportunities to enhance maternity and gynaecology services:

• Increased capacity in the Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU) and Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU)

• Additional support for women experiencing hyperemesis

• Antenatal day services will continue across all three sites (with changes at Pinderfields only)

• Opportunity to develop a new Maternity Assessment Unit, providing more streamlined care

 

Timeline

Key dates to be aware of:

Timeline for service moves

18 September 2026	Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) clinics begin operating from GOPD 10B on 21 September.
18 September 2026	Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU) and GOPD services operate from GOPD 10B on 21 September.
18 and 19 September 2026	Antenatal Day Unit (ANDU) and Antenatal Clinic (ANC) services relocate to Gate 46D (D-Cluster) on 21 September. Some antenatal clinics will continue from Dewsbury and Pontefract hospital.
18 September 2026	Women's Services move from Gate 10A to temporary accommodation in Gate 46D on 21 September.
Late November 2026	Therapies and Psychological Services begin operating from the Queen Elizabeth Therapies and Rehabilitation Centre.
Mid December 2026	Refurbishment of Gate 10A completed.
Late December 2026	New Medical Acute Receiving Unit (MARU) becomes operational in Gate 10A. The MARU will incorporate the current Medical Same Day Emergency Care (MSDEC) service and provide rapid assessment and treatment for appropriate patients referred by healthcare professionals.
March 2027	Women's Services move from Gate 46D into their permanent location in Gate 3A.

 

Progress at Queen Elizabeth Therapies and Rehabilitation Centre: June 2026