Whipps Cross University Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, has launched a £23m improvement programme aimed at enhancing patient care and upgrading facilities across the site over the next year.
Work is currently underway in the hospital’s emergency department (A&E), where the layout is being reconfigured to support faster and safer access to treatment.
The project is expected to take around eight months, with completion anticipated by March 2026.
During construction, temporary changes will be made to the department’s layout, although the Trust has confirmed that access to A&E will remain the same for most patients and visitors.
Work is currently underway in the hospital’s emergency department (A&E), where the layout is being reconfigured
The improvements are designed to reduce waiting times, enhance clinical flow, and increase the number of dedicated treatment spaces, minimising the need to accommodate patients in temporary areas.
Two new clinical units will also be delivered as part of the redevelopment.
A new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), due to open at the main entrance in August 2025, will be larger and better integrated with other emergency services.
In addition, a Paediatric Clinical Decision Unit is scheduled to open in autumn 2025, co-located with the recently launched Paediatric A&E.
Beyond the emergency department, the investment will support wider upgrades across the hospital. Maternity and postnatal wards will benefit from more single rooms and the installation of air conditioning, improving comfort for patients and families.
The project is expected to take around eight months, with completion anticipated by March 2026
More single occupancy rooms will also be created across other wards to enhance privacy and support recovery.
Meanwhile, ventilation and cooling systems are being modernised, with air conditioning to be installed across six wards.
By the end of 2025, over 250 bed spaces will have been upgraded.
Whipps Cross University Hospital is based in Leytonstone, East London, and is one of five hospitals managed by Barts Health NHS Trust, which is headquartered at Canary Wharf.