Special treatment

CONSTRUCTION work has begun on the multi-million pound expansion of the Royal Oldham Hospital’s accident-and-emergency facilities.

The remodelling of the existing A&E department and the development of separate facilities for children is set to be complete by summer 2014.

The £4.4 million capital investment aims to drive down waiting times.

The current A&E department treats around 94,000 patients a year; around 70 of the daily average of 280 are under 16.

The existing department will provide six adult resuscitation bays and one paediatric resuscitation bay — with the expansion including 10 treatment cubicles, one psychiatric liaison room, one individual treatment room and a shared plaster room with paediatrics.

Dr Nick Gili, A&E consultant and clinical director at the Royal Oldham, said: “The extra space will help us to provide patients with modern, spacious facilities, create more capacity and improve waiting times.

“This should go some way in helping us to meet the increased demands.”