Building work on expanding the accident and emergency department is under way at Southport hospital.



The £1.25m project aims to further improve the experience of care for patients and the environment in which staff treat them.



The centrepiece of the improvements is an 80 square-metre, nine-bay extension constructed from four ready-built modules.



They will be each lowered by crane into an internal courtyard, connected together and linked to the A&E department by a short corridor. The work is expected to be completed by the middle of April.



During the spring and summer, improvements to the existing A&E will create a more spacious, modern environment with an improved ambulance handover area and better access for disabled people.



Therese Patten, Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is wonderful news. Our local population is older than average with many very poorly, frailer patients, meaning these improvements are very much needed.



“Over the past three years, there’s been an almost 10% rise in patients coming to A&E. The team regularly sees at least 150 patients a day and last summer saw the highest level of attendances on record.



“I’m proud to say, however, that despite these challenges staff working together across the Trust still manage to deliver a service that scores well when compared with neighbouring hospitals.”



Therese added: “The work will reduce overcrowding at the busiest times, improve the experience of care for patients and provide a better environment for our staff.”

Without improvements in some of the staff who the hard working ones carry it is a waste of money.