A £200,000 project to improve Ipswich Hospital’s outpatient department is taking shape – with a new lounge for patients waiting to go home due to open on Monday.

A new covered walkway connecting the main outpatients centre to a nearby building – formally known as the Parentcraft Room – where the lounge is based, has also been built and is now in place.

Hannah English, matron for outpatient care at the Heath Road trust, said: “We want to give our patients waiting to go home by ambulances a much warmer and safer place to wait than in the main entrance to the department.

“Our plan involves creating a new ambulance liaison lounge which will mean people can wait in comfort, with a health care professional on hand, have hot drinks and watch the television or read in a lovely environment.”

The project will see the ambulance transport liaison desk based alongside the lounge in the Parentcraft Centre and the whole of the outpatient area will benefit from more seating and a new reception area.

Steve Mcintosh of the hospital’s Estate team, which is working on this project said work to create a new entrance will start of Wednesday.

He added: “A new central reception desk will also be in place to give people a clear source of help when they arrive. The project will involve moving the reception into the retail area previously used as the Optician’s Shop. The waiting area will be opened-up with the removal of the old reception and ambulance liaison desk. Our plan is for all building work will complete by March 18”.

In addition, new self check in kiosks for people coming to the hospital to see specialist clinicians will be introduced and a new central reception desk will be in place to give people a clear source of help on arrival.

All the development work is scheduled to be finished by early Spring.