A Birmingham hospital is extending its A&E department to help to manage the rise in patients needing emergency treatment.
Five new major injury bays have been built at Good Hope Hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, increasing the unit's capacity by 25 per cent.
Between December 26, 2005 and January 29, 7,471 patients attended the busy casualty - an increase of four per cent on the same period in 2004/05 - and of those, 2,062 were admitted for treatment, a rise of nine per cent.
An investment of £140,000 to expand the casualty comes after record numbers of admissions. The trust said it had funded the project from its capital expenditure budget, which it claimed will not add to its projected £5 million operating deficit.
Andrew Walker, director of operations, said: "Our accident and emergency department was designed to see 40,000 patients a year, but we are now seeing around 80,000 patients a year. The investment means we now have 19 major injury bays so we have more space to treat patients during the busiest times, which provides a better environment for patients to be treated in and for staff to work in."
Mr Walker added: "Patients with minor injuries can be referred to the minor injuries unit and the urgent care centre respectively, leaving A&E to handle the most seriously injured."
