AIREDALE Hospital's brand new £6.3 million A&E has been shown off to special guests ahead of its official opening tomorrow.

Civic leaders, patients, sponsors and health professionals were among those invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility yesterday.

Hospital bosses said they were delighted with the new department.

Chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Bridget Fletcher said: "We are thrilled with our much improved facilities and they have been completed on schedule, ready for using during winter, our busiest time of the year."

Emergency care consultant and project lead Meg Crossley added: "We're so grateful for the tremendous support we have had from our local community to provide vital resources to furnish and equip our new department in a way that is fit for the 21st century.

"Our team is very excited about starting work in such a wonderful environment."

Two patients who received life-saving treatment in Airedale's temporary emergency department, which has been caring for patients while the new unit was completed, were also given a sneak peek of the ward.

Gareth Scott, 33, of Beechcliffe, visited the department when he had a severe asthma attack, but went into anaphylactic shock after he was given penicillin, which he did not know he was allergic to.

He was put into an induced coma for 22 hours and said the Airedale emergency staff had saved his life.

His partner, Phillipa Hall, added: "The staff here were amazing, really good. They explained everything to me and encouraged me to go home and get some sleep."

Martin Quirk, 48, who is head of technical services at Airedale, suffered multiple serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in Embsay.

He said: "The team comforted and kept my partner and family informed on my progress throughout this critical time, during which I was given 18 units of blood while the internal bleeding was stopped and my pelvis was pinned.

"I was later transferred to Leeds, but the A&E team and theatre staff at Airedale saved my life for which I'm eternally grateful."

Work on the new A&E began last autumn and was carried out by Willmott Dixon.

The department includes separate adult and children's waiting areas, a quiet room for friends and families to use during stressful events and improved privacy and dignity for vulnerable older patients and their families and carers.

The Mayor of Keighley Councillor Graham Mitchell said: "I've been a patient in the old Airedale A&E on several occasions and this new department is just mind-blowing."

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