Enter and view: Arrowe Park Hospital A&E

Healthwatch Wirral undertook an announced enter and view visit to A&E at Wirral University Teaching Hospital at Arrowe Park on 19 March 2026. This was a familarisation visit in advance of a future planned unannounced visit.

The purpose of the visit was to gain an understanding of the Temporary Escalation Areas, commonly referred to as corridor care, and the reasons and processes behind their potential use. The visit was a familiarisation exercise rather than an inspection and was intended to inform future unannounced visits and the development of a checklist based on the NHS Red Line Toolkit.

At the time of the visit, Temporary Escalation Areas in Corridors 2 and 3 were not in use. Healthwatch representatives were escorted throughout the department by the Deputy Director of Nursing for Emergency Care, who explained how escalation areas operate during periods of high pressure. The department was undergoing significant refurbishment, and the areas that had been upgraded appeared clean, calm, and well maintained. However, some spaces, including a personal care room on Corridor 2 and areas such as Ward 44 and the Physio Gym, were described as dated and in need of modernisation. There was also a lack of clear signage explaining the current use of some spaces, which caused confusion during the visit.

Because the visit was chaperoned and the escalation areas were closed, Healthwatch representatives were unable to observe the patient journey directly. As a result, a future unannounced visit is planned to follow a patient’s experience from arrival through to next steps in care. Healthwatch suggested that a reactive approach be taken, allowing short-notice visits during particularly busy periods when escalation areas are in operation.

The report places strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, particularly the concept of moral injury, which refers to situations where staff feel unable to deliver the standard of care they believe is necessary due to pressure or demand. Healthwatch highlighted the importance of embedding the Red Line Toolkit within A&E practice and ensuring all staff understand how to raise concerns safely. While regular staff huddles already take place, the report recommends allocating specific time during these meetings to check on staff wellbeing and clarify escalation routes.

In terms of safety, Healthwatch noted that future visits should provide assurance that safe staffing levels and skill mix are maintained whenever escalation areas are opened, and that the principles of moral injury prevention are consistently applied. No direct engagement with patients’ families took place during this visit, but this is planned for future visits.

The report concludes that the familiarisation visit was useful in building understanding ahead of further scrutiny. Healthwatch plans to conduct an unannounced visit following the completion of the Urgent and Emergency Care Upgrade Programme, scheduled for July 2026, to assess the real-world impact on patients, staff, and families. The provider agreed with the contents of the report and noted that the opening of the new Emergency Department may allow for a review of how spaces such as the Physio Gym and Ward 44 are used, although no decisions have yet been made.