ABU DHABI // The accident and emergency department at Al Rahba Hospital will be expanded and renovated to increase capacity by 7 to 10 per cent and reduce waiting time.
Construction of the Dh33.6million hospital will begin shortly after the approval of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. It is expected to be completed in 20 months, according to the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Seha.
The hospital will have new medical and non-medical furniture and information technology. The existing A&E, the trauma care areas and the urgent care centre will be expanded while the systems for fire-fighting, electronic control, video surveillance and early warning for fire and smoke will be revamped.
The number of A&E beds will double to 18 and special beds for children will be provided.
In the first half of this year, Al Rahba Hospital's emergency room had nearly 40,000 patients. The expansion is seen to better serve more than an estimated 80,000 trauma patients this year.
The population around Al Rahba Hospital is growing due to the development of new residential areas.
It is hoped the designs will reduce energy and water consumption and will be in line with the latest international standards.
Seha will also carry out the expansion and renovation of Al Wagan Hospital in the eastern region of the emirate.
The work is part of the Government's plans to develop various areas in the emirate.
The focus is on the development of infrastructure and the provision of services to meet residents' needs within specific areas.
Seha will be able to offer additional medical services, including obstetrics, gynaecology and dialysis. This will benefit patients with renal failure and women who require caesarean sections.
Building work will reduce maintenance costs and provide a number of administrative support services, including meeting rooms and car parks.
The project involves the development of outbuildings such as the doctors' housing, a new emergency department, renovation of the existing outpatient clinics.
There will be one operating theatre for caesarean sections, two labour-delivery-recovery rooms, one room for infectious diseases, one unit in the emergency room for quick examination and diagnosis, and four units in the emergency department, bringing the number to eight. A single computed tomography scan device and five new units for dialysis services will also be provided.