Great Western Hospital hopes that the transition from its old A&E to the multi-million pound new Emergency Department will go smoothly.

After nearly five years of work, the £33.5m expansion will treat its first patients later in the summer.

An exact opening date given to the Adver during our visit last Thursday has since been de-confirmed due to a few more minor issues that need to be ironed out before patients can visit.

Operations manager Kevin Clark outlined how the big swap will be carried out on the day and what patients can expect in the following months.

He said: “We are maximising bed space and all our services to have a seamless transition.

“There will be a period where both emergency departments will be open with double staff.

“Emergency care doesn’t stop, it’s 24/7, so we have a plan in place to manage the existing patients who will be held in the old department and then moved on to admitting wards or discharge, whatever is the most appropriate care pathway for them.

“After 8am on [opening day], all new self-referring patients or those arriving at the Emergency Department by ambulance will go into the new building.

“Everything works in tandem. We have the flexibility to manage space outside the department for extra ambulances to use during busy times and this building’s space allows us to move patients through the process faster to free up ambulances that are waiting.

“The old ED is very noisy and distracting but the new area is more spread out and will feel less pressured, even at busy times, because there’s a design aesthetic that benefits both patients and staff.

“How we function on Day One and Day 100 will be very different because there will be a constant change in how we provide care. That is the nature of Emergency Departments, we are constantly looking to improve.”

Nursing manager Natalie Lawrence added: “The nature of emergency care has evolved so much since the old emergency department was built.

"It's been a real journey and to step back now and see it come to fruition is great.

"It's been wonderful to reach out to patients so that they can influence and inform how we bring them these benefits.

"We are seeing a higher number of patients than when the old ED was built, and have an ageing population.

“This place has been designed to factor in future growth and it will continue to evolve in how we better support patients. This is not ‘job done’.”