Patients visiting Leighton Hospital will be using a new main entrance.
Major refurbishment works have been completed on the former entrance canopy replaced by a glass-fronted façade, which now includes an 80-seater Café Express for patients, visitors and staff.
Other changes include a new shop run by the hospital’s League of Friends, new reception area, new toilets and space for a new ATM.
The works coincided with a refurbishment of the car park, which now features more disabled spaces, improved traffic flow and safer pedestrian access.
During renovation, a time capsule was uncovered containing items from the late 1960s and early 1970s – around the time of the hospital’s original opening.
Items included newspapers of the day, an early set of decimalised coins and a newsletter from the construction company who originally built the hospital.
This time capsule has been reinstalled as part of the renovation, with a 2014 version added alongside to provide a comparison.
Replicating the original contents, the 2014 capsule contains copies of local and national newspapers, newsletters and a set of modern coins.
Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Over the past few years, we have been steadily improving our hospital environment.
“From ward and corridor refurbishments through to new state-of-the-art operating theatres, we are committed to providing the best possible facilities for our local communities.
“We know attending hospital can be a daunting prospect, but we firmly believe our new main entrance will provide a friendly and reassuring welcome to everybody, as well as improving to make their time here more comfortable.
“We also realise with all of the recent changes, some of our patients and visitors can find it difficult to find their way around.
“This is why we are also replacing all of our internal and external way-finding signage over the next few weeks to make navigating our site much easier for everyone.”
Work is also progressing on a refurbishment of the hospital’s main Outpatients Hall.
For three weeks, the main hall will be closed from 6pm until 8am on weekdays and from 6pm on Fridays until 8am on Mondays.
During these times, access to Outpatient clinics will be via the nearby Eye Care Centre, with all diversions clearly signposted.
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