WORK to provide state of the art accident and emergency facilities for the New Millennium will get underway at Trafford General Hospital within weeks.

The £1 million-plus upgrade at the accident and emergency department is due to start in the new year and be completed by next autumn.

Hospital bosses are delighted the work is going ahead - but are keen to stress the unit will be open for business as usual.

The department is temporarily shifting from its present location at the front of the hospital to what was the physiotherapy department off Bowers Avenue, at the rear of the hospital.

Claire Summers, consultant in accident and emergency medicine, says of the improvements: "This is a great opportunity for Trafford, we are all looking forward to treating patients in our upgraded department.

"But the most important message I would like to convey is that we are not closing and therefore will be open for business as usual!"

The department will be shifted on Sunday, December 5. The original unit and the new site will both be open on the day the relocation takes place. The 'old' accident and emergency department will close during the afternoon and all casualties will then be seen at the new location, which will be clearly sign posted.

Improvements being carried out at the accident and emergency unit are designed to protect patient and relative privacy, while a link corridor will create a new main entrance to the hospital.

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