The Gainsborough Wing at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust has reopened to patients after a £1.6million refurbishment.

East Anglian Daily Times: Staff pictured in the Gainsborough Wing at Colchester General Hospital, which has had a £1.6million revamp. Picture: CHRIS BRAMMERStaff pictured in the Gainsborough Wing at Colchester General Hospital, which has had a £1.6million revamp. Picture: CHRIS BRAMMER (Image: Archant)

The project, which has seen the number of clinic rooms doubled, began in March 2017 and has been carried out in phases so services could still be accessed throughout the construction period.

The final phase of the project will see a new £3m breast unit open at the Turner Road site later this spring, replacing what it is currently offered at Essex County Hospital.

The 4.5 acre site in Lexden Road, which will be demolished this year to make way for new housing, will close once health services are relocated.

Sue Warner, Gainsborough outpatients sister, said: “The refurbishment has made the whole area lighter, brighter and more welcoming for patients, staff and therapists, and should help further improve the experience our patients have when visiting us.

“The additional clinical rooms which have been created will play an important role in helping us to meet increasing demand for outpatient services, whilst the dementia-friendly work, which includes better lighting and colour-coding, will also make a big difference.

“We are really pleased with the improvements and hope that the thousands of patients who visit the wing each year like the refurbishment as much as we do.”

As part of the revamp the general physiotherapy, prosthetic and neuro-rehabilitation gyms have been redeveloped so they better meet the needs of patients, with additional storage space created for specialist equipment.

In addition the outpatient department (OPD) has been completely refurbished and the number of bookable clinic rooms increased from seven to 16 to help manage increasing demand for services.

The number of day beds available for patients who come to the department on a stretcher or for a day case procedure, such as a lumbar puncture, has increased from two to three.

A spacious, purpose-built area has been created for patients receiving infusions, with space for up to five patients at any time – two more than what was available previously.

Automatic check-in kiosks have been installed to increase convenience and privacy for patients arriving for appointments, while a new Changing Places toilet, which gives people with physical or learning disabilities the extra space and equipment they need has also been created.