EXCLUSIVE: £42 MILLION BOOST FOR QUEEN’S HOSPITAL A&E AS LONG-AWAITED TRANSFORMATION GETS GREEN LIGHT

18th October 202618th October 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments A&E, Funding, Government, Queen's Hospital, Romford min read

The Havering Daily can exclusively reveal that Queen’s Hospital in Romford has secured £42 million in government funding to transform its overcrowded A&E department, in a major breakthrough for patients across Havering and surrounding areas who have been calling for improvements to local hospital services.

In an email seen by The Havering Daily, the hospital’s leadership confirmed that the £42 million needed to rebuild and modernise the accident and emergency department has been secured after 22 months of campaigning, meetings and discussions.

The funding is expected to be announced by the Government as part of a wider £140 million investment in urgent care.

The news marks a significant moment for Queen’s Hospital, where the existing A&E department has been struggling to cope with demand far beyond the capacity it was originally designed to handle.

When the hospital opened in 2006, its A&E was built to care for around 325 patients a day. However, the department now regularly sees more than double that number seeking urgent and emergency treatment.

The hospital has acknowledged that fundamental changes are needed to improve conditions for patients and staff.

According to the information provided to The Havering Daily, the current department’s complicated layout can make it difficult for patients to find their way around. There is also no dedicated waiting area, while overcrowding has placed additional pressure on the way patients are assessed and treated.

One of the most striking changes will be the distance patients have to walk to reach the adult A&E department.

Currently, patients must walk approximately 335 steps from the entrance to A&E. Under the new plans, that distance will be reduced to just 50 steps.

The transformation is intended to create a modern, fit-for-purpose emergency department, with dedicated waiting areas, improved visibility for staff monitoring patients, better patient flow and more natural light.

The improvements will also extend to children needing emergency treatment.

Plans include bringing the Children’s A&E and assessment area together by removing the corridor separating them, creating a dedicated resuscitation area and improving spaces for children who need somewhere quieter to decompress.

The hospital is also planning to work with UCL Partners, drawing on its expertise and research as it explores the development of a digital system for the new department.

Fiona Wheeler, Interim Chief Executive, described the funding as a landmark moment for residents and staff.

She said:

“This is a landmark moment for our residents and our staff.

“The £42 million allows us to build on the work our teams have already done to improve the service we provide in our A&E, reduce waiting times and the need for corridor care. It will put an end to staff working in cramped conditions and create a better clinical environment.

“A new A&E department will restore dignity, improve safety and create a setting for our teams to deliver the best possible care. We are planning on collaborating with UCL Partners to support further digital innovation.

“We’re looking forward to getting the spades in the ground and transforming our A&E into one we can be proud of.”

The funding announcement follows years of concern about the pressure on Queen’s Hospital and the ability of local health services to cope with a growing population.

The Havering Daily has previously reported on residents’ calls for greater hospital capacity, with hundreds of readers responding to questions about whether Havering needs a bigger hospital to meet current and future demand.

With housing developments continuing across Havering and neighbouring areas, the future capacity of local health services remains a major concern for residents.

The £42 million investment is now expected to pave the way for a substantial transformation of one of the area’s busiest emergency departments.

The hospital has also invited supporters to save the morning of Friday 4 December for an event marking Queen’s Hospital’s 20th anniversary and the transformation of its A&E.

For patients and families who have experienced the pressure on emergency services first-hand, the funding represents a major step towards a department designed around the needs of the people it serves.

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