The first patients are now being cared for in a new £3m intensive care unit at South Tyneside District Hospital.
A top consultant at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust has described the new unit as having "some of the best facilities in the world". There are six individual rooms featuring "smart glass" which can be switched between opaque and clear at the touch of a button.
The rooms also have new modern equipment, while there is also a dedicated entrance for the unit and a new reception area. Staff areas have also been improved with new seminar and break rooms and improved changing areas. The set-up mirrors the Sunderland Royal critical care unit, helping staff who work in both locations.
Pete Hersey, critical care consultant, said: "This new Intensive Care Unit in South Tyneside District Hospital now provides some of the best facilities in the world to care for some of our sickest patients. We have spacious single rooms that offer privacy and a much better experience for families spending time with their loved ones.
“The equipment within the unit is also all brand new and of a really high specification"
He said it would "make a real difference" and added: "We are proud to say that with this new facility, we have created the best environment to allow the best care for the population of South Tyneside and Sunderland."
The project has been completed thanks to building work from Tolent and design by P+HS Architects. Steve Church, regional manager at Tolent, said: "This project has been a great success for all those involved. It’s created an environment where critical care can be performed to the highest standard through quality facilities for both staff and patients."
And Derek Shepherd of P+HS Architects said the environment "will support the staff and the fantastic care they provide" - he said this made the two-year construction and design period "worth every effort".
This comes as work continues on the hospital's new £10m Integrated Diagnostic Centre which is due to open in the coming weeks.
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