THE way patients and visitors get into the main Colchester Hospital building and A&E is changing for the next five months.

The main hospital building entrance is closing later this month as part of the major redevelopment to transform the front of the building.

While the work is completed a temporary entrance will be in place.

Some work is taking place this Monday which will affect patient and visitor access to the emergency department.

The path to the left of the car parking pay machines by the car park entry barriers will be closed.

To get to the emergency department patients and visitors will need to cross over the main causeway at the front of the hospital, where the blue footbridge used to be.

For those going to the Gainsborough Wing and Turner Diagnostic Centre buildings, the best route will be to cross the north entrance road closer to Turner Road and use the pedestrian crossing to safely walk past the hoarded area.

The closure is needed so construction traffic can access an area behind the hoarding to create a new drop-off zone for the emergency department.

Signs will be in place to show people which routes they need to take.

From Monday, June 24 the main entrance to the hospital building will be closed for around six months while building work continues to improve patient facilities at the front of the hospital.

This will allow for the construction of the new building, and during this period patients and visitors will need to use alternative entrances to the hospital.

A new temporary entrance has been formed, which will take patients and visitors through part of the outpatients department near to the children’s outpatients entrance.

To access Gainsborough Wing wards and clinics, patients and visitors are advised to use the Gainsborough Wing entrance to the right of the main building.

There will be signs in the front car parks which will guide patients and visitors, with volunteers and staff on hand.

The extension to the building, which is being funded by working with commercial partner Noviniti at no cost to the taxpayer, will be in two blocks.

The first is single-storey and provides additional space for the emergency department, which will also include an Urgent Treatment Centre from October.

The second is a larger, two-storey block which forms the new entrance.

This will provide non-clinical hospital space on the first floor, with new visitor facilities and convenience/retail outlets on the ground floor.

These include M&S Food to go, WH Smith, Costa Coffee and Stock Shop clothing store.

Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs Colchester Hospital, said: “We thank everyone for their patience while we work to make these major improvements to Colchester Hospital.

“Our medical teams are working closely with the estates and facilities team to make sure there is minimal disruption while the next phases of construction are carried out.

“We understand it may cause some inconvenience now, but ultimately we are working hard to create a more welcoming and modern front entrance and reception.

“These areas frequently give our patients a first impression of the hospital, and it can shape their whole experience of coming to hospital at what, for many, is already a stressful and tough time.

“We don’t want to add to that, so by increasing the space and improving the facilities in this area we aim to provide a more calming and comfortable environment for our patients, visitors and staff.”