Date set for A&E transfer (From Watford Observer)

Date set for A&E transfer

7:24am Friday 18th January 2008 in

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Accident and emergency services for the whole of south-west Hertfordshire will be transferred to Watford General Hospital on October 7, a report has revealed.

Emergency care services currently offered at Hemel Hempstead General Hospital will close on that date, removing 239 acute beds and eight critical care beds from its wards.

After October 7, Watford will have 413 acute beds and 19 critical care beds, and St Albans City Hospital will have 40 acute beds, up from 28 - a total loss of 82 acute beds but an increase of five critical care beds.

That date is one of several milestones facing West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2008, as disclosed in its recently published Operational Plan 2008/09.

Other key dates include the opening of Watford's 120-bed Acute Admissions Unit (AAU) on October 1, and of the extended Children's Emergency Department on November 30.