The entrance to the Emergency Department (A&E) at the Cumberland Infirmary is moving from Wednesday 28th January, 2026.
The move will see the entrance switch back where the previous A&E entrance used to be – at the side of the hospital, close to where the ambulance bays are located. The entrance will lead to a new waiting area for A&E.
Since April last year, patients have been accessing the Emergency Department via the main atrium entrance. This was to allow building work to take place on a new Urgent Treatment Centre, but from 28th January, the new entrance and waiting area will be ready to welcome patients.
Volunteers will be on hand at the main CIC entrance to remind patients of the change and to help with directions, if needed.
Dr Claire Gray, Emergency Medicine Consultant at NCIC, said: “The new entrance and waiting area marks a milestone in the progression of the new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at the Cumberland Infirmary which will open to patients in Spring 2026. The UTC will be an expansion of our urgent and emergency care facilities at CIC and it will improve the way we are able to care for patients who need urgent and emergency treatment. By locating the UTC next to our A&E we will be able to separate out major and minor injuries so the most appropriate care can be provided.
“Urgent care will be provided in one place with Cumbria Health (out of hours doctors) also set to move to the department. The new facility will provide 12 consultation rooms. The current Emergency Department was built with capacity for 30,000 attendances per year. Last year, it had 78,300 attendances which is more than two and half times its original capacity so we are delighted that we will be expanding the space we have.
“Until the UTC opens in Spring, we will continue to redirect patients to the most appropriate service for them if their condition is not an emergency.”
On the morning of 28th January, staff will be on-hand to help any patients in the current A&E department waiting area move to the new waiting area.
The entrance to the Emergency Department (A&E) at the Cumberland Infirmary is moving from Wednesday 28th January, 2026.
The move will see the entrance switch back where the previous A&E entrance used to be – at the side of the hospital, close to where the ambulance bays are located. The entrance will lead to a new waiting area for A&E.
Since April last year, patients have been accessing the Emergency Department via the main atrium entrance. This was to allow building work to take place on a new Urgent Treatment Centre, but from 28th January, the new entrance and waiting area will be ready to welcome patients.
Volunteers will be on hand at the main CIC entrance to remind patients of the change and to help with directions, if needed.
Dr Claire Gray, Emergency Medicine Consultant at NCIC, said: “The new entrance and waiting area marks a milestone in the progression of the new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at the Cumberland Infirmary which will open to patients in Spring 2026. The UTC will be an expansion of our urgent and emergency care facilities at CIC and it will improve the way we are able to care for patients who need urgent and emergency treatment. By locating the UTC next to our A&E we will be able to separate out major and minor injuries so the most appropriate care can be provided.
“Urgent care will be provided in one place with Cumbria Health (out of hours doctors) also set to move to the department. The new facility will provide 12 consultation rooms. The current Emergency Department was built with capacity for 30,000 attendances per year. Last year, it had 78,300 attendances which is more than two and half times its original capacity so we are delighted that we will be expanding the space we have.
“Until the UTC opens in Spring, we will continue to redirect patients to the most appropriate service for them if their condition is not an emergency.”
On the morning of 28th January, staff will be on-hand to help any patients in the current A&E department waiting area move to the new waiting area.