A new 17-bed ward opens on Monday 9 January at Edgware Community Hospital.

Ruby ward will deliver additional capacity for Barnet Hospital and provides a welcoming and caring environment for patients who no longer need to be treated in an acute setting. 

Ruby is a short-stay ward where patients can stay for up to 72 hours while the final stages of their discharge or transfer of care are being completed. 

This additional ward will free up beds at Barnet Hospital and as such reduce waiting times in our emergency department for those patients who need to be admitted.

Bev Thomas, director of nursing at Barnet Hospital, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to all the staff who have worked incredibly hard to get Ruby ward up and running. 

“The opening of this new ward is a huge contribution to improving patient flow through our hospital and also a great opportunity to improve the overall patient experience. Patients transferred there will continue to receive the care they need until the final stages of their discharge or transfer of care are complete and it will also mean there is more capacity for patients arriving at our emergency department who require hospital care.”