Warrington Hospital opens new acute cardiac care unit

The Mayor of Warrington Cllr Karen Mundry officially opened the acute cardiac care unit at the Lovely Lane site on Thursday, December 20.

Located in the former A3 ward, the new unit has seen a merger of the 18-bed cardiac C21 ward on the hospital's Croft wing and the eight-bed coronary care unit on the Appleton wing.

Hospital bosses say the move will allow for the 'seamless treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of patients living with heart problems'.

The Mayor of Warrington Cllr Karen Mundry opens the new acute cardiac care unit

Professor Simon Constable, deputy chief executive and executive medical director at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have long wished to locate all of our acute speciality wards in the hospital’s main ward block - close to acute medicine, radiology and the emergency department.

"The estates team have done a fantastic job within the confines of our ageing estate, and our specialist cardiac and support teams are delighted with the new environment and purpose-built space within which to treat our patients.

"The trust board approved the investment of £750,000 in these challenging times, which is absolutely the right thing to do for our patients."

Work to create the acute cardiac care unit began in August, and last 18 weeks - with the first patients transferred to the ward in December.

The new unit boasts air conditioning, adjustable lighting and designated 'quiet spaces'.

Ward C21 will now be used as extra space to help the trust to cope with winter pressures.

After the winter, it could then be used to create a new 'state-of-the-art' midwifery-led maternity unit alongside the hospital's existing facilities.