PATIENTS will benefit from the latest hi-tech A&E facilities after £1.2million of work was completed in a hospital.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has carried out a raft of improvements to critical care services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock.

The programme has led to three new treatment rooms, more space for the most critically ill patients and improvements to triage facilities and hospital equipment. That cost £1m.

About 35,000 patients are treated in the casualty departments each year.

A further £200,000 has been spent improving the main entrance, which has been upgraded to create a more welcoming environment for patients and visitors.

The work brings the total spent on improvements in the hospital this year to more than £3m.

Dr Dave Stoddart, lead A&E consultant, said: "The refurbishment and upgrading of accident and emergency provides the department with state-of-the-art critical care facilities.

"This benefits patients and also means staff can deliver up-to-date healthcare."

Andrew Robertson, chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "Under­taking this refurbishment whilst still providing a fully functioning emergency department was not without its challenges.

"So it is a great testament to the staff that they continued to provide a high quality service to patients despite the disruption of building works.

"The support from surrounding departments, including staff from the fracture clinic and day surgery, was of great importance.

"They often provided additional short term capacity for the emergency department to make sure waiting patients could continue to be treated as soon as possible."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk