Two wards at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) have been officially reopened as part of a multi-million pound project which is refurbishing eight wards.

Eastern Daily Press: Staff at the Easton Ward reopening. Photo: NNUHStaff at the Easton Ward reopening. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)

The project is introducing a range of new features on wards with the aim to enhance patient care at NNUH, and is being carried out by Serco.

Both Easton and Mattishall Ward were officially re-opened by John Fry, NNUH chairman, and Mark Davies, NNUH chief executive.

Mr Davies said: 'Officially reopening the wards after their refurbishment celebrates the dedicated work gone into enhancing our patient environment and hospital facilities. I would like to thank Serco and all the teams involved at the trust in the refurbishment; a project which will prove massively beneficial for our patients, their families and our NNUH staff.'

Abi Tierney, Serco contract director said: 'This is an incredibly exciting project which we hope will make a huge difference for patients, their families and staff. Our team of experts have thought incredibly carefully about every small detail in the design, so that we can give patients the best environment to support their recovery, and help the Trust's brilliant clinical teams to provide the highest standards of care.'

Easton Ward is a surgical emergency assessment unit and accepts referrals for emergency surgical patients from GPs, A&E, outpatient clinics and other hospitals.

Linda Page, divisional senior matron for surgery said: 'In alignment with the refurbishment, we had also just introduced the concept of ambulatory emergency care (AEC) into surgery – a process by which we rapidly assess patients to provide a diagnosis and plan treatment. Our refurbishment allowed us to divide the ward more succinctly between our traditional emergency admissions, those who are going to need to stay and our new AEC cohort.'

Mattishall Ward specialises in treating patients with respiratory conditions.

Melanie Griggs, ward sister, said: 'The enhancement of the facilities on Mattishall Ward is tremendous. The introduction of the new facilities supports the excellent care carried out on the ward.'

Dr Frankie Swords, chief of medical division said: 'I am thrilled that the first two wards have officially been reopened as part of the ward refurbishment programme. It is a chance to celebrate the enhancement of facilities for patients and staff, and the work that has been carried out on all wards will make a big difference.'

To avoid disruption for patients and staff, the wards are being refurbished on a one-by-one basis. As part of the refurbishment programme, six more wards across the hospital will be refurbished and officially reopened during the rest of the year.