The first patients will be admitted to a new state-of-the-art hospital unit in North Walsham when it opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday).

The North Walsham and District War Memorial Hospital, on Yarmouth Road, is expected to welcome two patients, increasing by at least two each day until it reaches capacity.

They will be admitted to the hospital's new in-patient unit which has been constructed as part of a �3.7m redevelopment project.

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust's director of operations Anna Morgan said: 'We are delighted to open this state-of-the-art inpatient unit. It is a wonderful unit in which our professional staff will be able to offer the very best care to local patients.

'It is a great example of investment in local services and has been built with patients and nursing care in mind. It has big airy rooms, many single beds, ensuite facilities, corridors that are easy to move beds around in, and the latest infection control features, such as ceiling-based heating panels which means there aren't any radiators to keep clean.'

The first two patients admitted to the new unit will be transferred from St Michael's Hospital in Aylsham, which will close its in-patient services from Thursday.

Patients will benefit from rehabilitation and care within the new 24-bed ward – eight more than was available in the old hospital ward. The former hospital building was demolished at the end of 2011.

The new in-patient unit is connected to the recently refurbished Rebecca House outpatient unit which will now be known as the North Walsham Outpatients Department.

Outpatient clinics will continue to be provided at St Michael's until they can be relocated to Aylsham's new health centre, which is currently under construction.