As part of our works, access to our Emergency Departments (adult and paediatric) has changed. Visitors should continue to use the South Entrance and Billing Road entrances as main access points.
Key changes and things to be aware of:
- The only access to the Cliftonville entrance or Adult Emergency Department (ED) is through the new walkway (to the left of the Nye Bevan building if you're facing the hospital from the road). The old route past the Paediatric ED into the Cliftonville entrance is now Paediatric ED access only.
- Where possible we are asking patients and visitors to use the South Entrance and Billing Road entrances as main access points to the hospital.
- Please follow the diversion signage. More signage will be added in the next few days.
- Temporary traffic lights are in place on the Cliftonville road meaning there is single lane traffic. Please use the pedestrian crossings and paths.
- The parking bays on Cliftonville have been temporarily suspended and the bus stop has moved. Please check your bus route and allow extra travel time.
- There are four 15-minute drop off spaces for the Emergency Departments, located in the Springfield car park. Please encourage patients to use these spaces if they are accessing emergency care.
- If you are dropping a patient off in an emergency situation, especially paediatric patients, please use this drop off area.
- Anyone being dropped off at the site should use the alternative drop off bays in the car park next to Springfield or at the South Entrance. Please do not get dropped off on the road.
- Parking is always limited on site so please allow extra time for your journey.
- An updated map is available here.
- Please be ensure you are following our No Smoking and Smoke free Hospital policies. If you do choose to go off site to smoke or vape please be considerate about where you are surrounding in public areas, especially close to patients coming in for care.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we transform our urgent and emergency care facilities.
Planning permission granted for major new urgent care development at Northampton General
Northampton General Hospital has secured planning permission for a £15.75 million development that will transform urgent and emergency care facilities.
The new Emergency Department public entrance and Urgent Treatment Centre will provide a modern, central hub for patients needing urgent and life-saving care ensuring patients are able to access the most appropriate clinician for the care they need in the best setting for them, with completion expected in summer 2026.
The new development will replace the existing Springfield Urgent Treatment Centre, which opened in 2017 and porta cabin entrances to the Emergency Department, which have been in place as a temporary measure since 2023. The unit will be built near to the Cliftonville Road entrance and will join the existing Emergency Department with the Nye Bevan building.
Polly Grimmett, Director of Strategy at UHN, explained the difference the new building will make: “We are delighted that planning permission has been granted for us to build the new Emergency Department public entrance and Urgent Treatment Centre.
“Being able to expand and permanently upgrade our Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) facilities is an important milestone for the future of our hospital and for our local community. By having this new facility, we will be able to provide care in a modern environment and improve the experience our patients have when needing urgent or lifesaving care”.
Groundworks have begun on site and changes have already been happening across UEC to support the build.
At the end of November, the existing entrance, located in the portacabin, will move to new portacabins in the space behind the Nye Bevan building. Signage will be in place to show patients where to go to the temporary unit and the hospital will provide regular updates to the public.
Free drop off parking for Urgent and Emergency Care services are in the Springfield car park and are available for a 15-minute short stay. Further drop off parking is available at the South Entrance, a short distance from the lift/stairwell to the Emergency Department.
Over the coming months there will be further changes to the site to support these works. Whilst the hospital will be working to minimise disruption for anyone moving onto and around the site, there may be some inconvenience at certain times whilst this exciting development progresses.
The local community can keep up to date on the progress of the project on the hospital website: https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/About/Buildings-and-Service-Improvement/Building-a-Better-UHN.aspx
An artist's impression of the new building.