After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
After suspending visiting earlier in the year, we are now able to offer limited visiting to some wards at the discretion of the nurse in-charge.”
Read more on visiting times...
We recognise the impact that a long stay in hospital can have on families and the importance of maintaining strong communication. Our ward staff are keeping in touch with patients’ next of kin directly and our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help pass on personal messages from family and friends.
The Queen Alexandra Hospital is located just on the hill slopes of Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth. It is conveniently situated for both the M27 and A3M.
Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health. We are committed to the active involvement of family members, friends and carers during a hospital stay. Family members and carers play an important role in supporting patients during an episode of ill health.
More information on visiting hospital for an appointment.
If you've had experience of using our services and would like to make a comment then please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). Your views are very important to us and we would like to hear where you think improvements are needed or where things have gone so well that you would like to share your thanks or gratitude with the staff involved. When things have not gone so well then you can be sure that we want to hear from you, so please get in touch with PALS.
During your stay in hospital you will meet a number of different members of staff. All members of staff wear name badges, but if you are not sure who someone is or what they do, please feel free to ask them to introduce themselves and explain what they do.
If you have any questions about your treatment, please ask a doctor or a nurse.
There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved with the Trust, from volunteering to attending our public meetings, our Annual General Meeting or our hospital open day which is held every year.
We welcome and value your feedback and use the views you share with us in a number of ways to learn and make improvements as well as sharing best practice. Feedback can be provided in a number of ways.
Last updated: 06 March 2023
Improving Queen Alexandra Hospital for patients, carers and colleagues
Over the next few years we are planning a number of significant improvements to the QA Hospital site to ensure we can continue to deliver high quality services in efficient, well-maintained and well-designed buildings.
These include our new emergency department and improvements to our buildings. Increasing the amount of clinical space available will not only help us to meet the growing demand for our hospital services, but also enable us to provide care in the most modern, welcoming and safe environments for our patients and visitors.
We have extensive plans to improve the ‘biodiversity’ on site: creating green spaces, planting trees, shrubs, and other plants to improve the environment for our patients, local community and colleagues. You can read more about our sustainability plans here - https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/about-us/climate-change-and-sustainability.htm
Our new Emergency Department opening Winter 2024
Supported by £58 million of national funding we are building a new Emergency Department of the people of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
The ED will provide a range of improved facilities including double the current resus capacity from four adult bays to eight for patients needing treatment for critical conditions; two further paediatric resus bays for children; a new CT scanner for patients requiring a specialist scan, and faster access to our radiology team for scans and tests.
You can now take a tour of the new facilities with our new fly through video. Take yourself on a virtual journey and see how the new design will help our staff to work in a more streamlined way, continue to improve patient safety and provide the best possible care.
You can find out the latest information on the building progress on our social media channels:
Get involved
If you would like to be kept updated or get involved as we develop our new emergency department, please email us at bbec@porthosp.nhs.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Our Emergency Department dates back to 1979 and since then demand for urgent care has grown. In Portsmouth, the average daily attendance at the Emergency Department in 2010 was 240 patients per day. By 2017 this had risen to 299 per day and now sits routinely at 324 patients per day, although on busy days the department sees up to almost 400 patients. Predominantly this increase has been focused in the areas of major illness and paediatrics although all parts of unscheduled care have seen increased demand.
There have been some enhancements to the physical space (most notably in the paediatric Emergency Department). However the physical layout of our majors area remains a significant operational challenge and impacts on the patient experience. As a result, despite all of our best efforts it is now clear that the adult facility is no longer fit for purpose, a fact recognised by external experts, including the CQC in their recent inspection report on our urgent and emergency care service in May 2018.
No. All Minor Injuries units will remain in place. The ED will only treat people that have serious and life-threatening conditions. If you need urgent care for conditions that aren’t serious or life threatening, you can access the minor injuries units, urgent treatment centre or call 111.
If you have a minor injury or illness, then you will need to contact 111. The ED should only be used for serious and life-threatening conditions such as:
Parking on-site is always going to be challenging as we have very limited space to expand. To make sure we can provide the best services in modern and safe clinical environments the new ED is being built on the East Staff car park. This has meant a reduction in spaces for staff on the site. Alternative free car parking has been made available as part of the park and ride scheme. We are also encouraging people with routine appointments and visitors to the site, to use alternative modes of transport where possible.
There will be two separate waiting areas for children and their carers. One area will be for younger children with soft surroundings. The other area is themed as a ship and is designed for older children.
There will also be a designated drop off zone for people attending Children’s ED.
