University Hospital North Tees has officially unveiled its new, state-of-the-art Emergency Assessment Unit, an ambitious development designed to overcome longstanding challenges in patient flow and clinical capacity.
Previously, Assessment Areas 1 and 2 were constrained by limited space and inefficient layout, centred around an underutilised outdoor courtyard. The new facility reimagines this footprint, delivering a modern, high-capacity unit that supports a streamlined Emergency Department (ED) and faster ambulance handovers. These improvements are already reflected in positive GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) reviews and enhanced Summary Acute Medical Indicator Table (SAMIT) metrics.
The project was a collaborative effort, co-designed by the NTH Solutions Design & Development team, clinical colleagues, and P&HS Architects, ensuring the new unit meets the practical needs of both patients and staff.
Dave Younger, Design & Development Manager, and Glen Newby, Head of Design & Development at NTH Solutions, explained:
“With limited space available, we extended the department by infilling the courtyard with a steel frame structure. This enabled the creation of two waiting areas, two triage rooms, six treatment rooms, nine treatment chair spaces, and four bed clinic rooms, significantly increasing capacity. A packaged plant room was installed above the frame to maximise patient space, with dedicated access for maintenance.”
They added: “Collaborative working is central to our ethos at North Tees and Hartlepool Solutions LLP. This project showcases the proactive contributions of our clinical teams, designers, contractors, and subcontractors in delivering a high-quality facility for Teesside patients.”
Special thanks were extended to P&HS Architects, BGP Structural Engineers, TG Armstrong, Driver Project Services, Richmond Safety Services, Geoffrey Robinson Ltd, and especially the latter’s Site Management team for their expertise in delivering the project on time and within budget.
The redevelopment involved the demolition of a two-office extension in the rear courtyard of Assessment 1, installation of new below-ground drainage, and construction of a steel frame with concrete flooring and a new roof. The redesign also extends into Treatment Waiting Area 2 and Triage Rooms 1 and 2.
The new Emergency Assessment Unit now includes:
- A 26-seat general waiting area
- A 26-seat treatment waiting area
- Two new assessment rooms
- Five clinical assessment rooms
- A nine-chair treatment area
- A new doctors’ office
- Three patient toilets, including one that’s fully DDA-compliant (Disability Discrimination Act)
- A Mindray patient monitoring system integrated with TrakCare
- A compliant air handling and ventilation system
- An upgraded, energy-efficient heating system
This expansion increases treatment and clinical capacity from 8 treatment areas (2 x 4-bed units) to 18 dedicated spaces.
Construction began in October 2024, with Phase 1 handed over in May 2025 and full completion by late summer 2025. The unit was officially opened this week by Stacey Hunter, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Tees, who said: “Thank you all staff in the unit for all of their commitment and patience during the works, as well as to the companies involved in the construction works. Staff and patients are really satisfied with the environment they are now in.
“We only got the opportunity to spend this money because our performance across our urgent and emergency care service – something also contributed to by teams across the whole organisation – over the last year has been one of the best in the country.
“Our clinical colleagues got us to this stage. Our frontline teams do brilliant work all day, every day and it is really nice to give something back to them as well as to the patients who will benefit so much from this.”
Pictured: NTH Solutions Design and Development team at the formal EAU opening with project contractors: P&HS Architects, BGP Structural Engineers, TG Armstrong, Driver Project Services and Geoffrey Robinson Ltd.
