Patients can expect a more private and dignified experience at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's new breast care unit, which is the latest in a number of improvements for the future.

The new unit means that facilities are no longer shared with other departments.

It includes more spacious clinic rooms, examination rooms, a second ultrasound room complete with new ultrasound machine. and a treatment room.

There's also a new counselling room, fitting rooms, a seminar room and improved office space and reception facilities.

Consultant breast care surgeon Amy Burger said: 'We see over 12,000 patients every year with a number of different breast-related conditions, including breast screening patients.

'It's fantastic we can now provide an environment for them which is comfortable.

'The idea for the new breast unit started 10 years ago.

'Previously, we had just two rooms at the back of radiology, and you had to give patients news, including bad news, in a curtained-off area in a corridor. Patients now say that it's like being in a private hospital.'

The hospital's chief executive Dorothy Hosein said: 'Everything we do now is planning for the future. Patients' privacy and dignity were compromised at the old unit.'

The unit cost about £650,000, with half of the money funded by donations from a large number of current and former patients, their families and members of the community.

One donation was made on behalf of the Caron Keating Foundation, a charity set up to support cancer-related causes by Caron's mother Gloria Hunniford and other members of her family following her death from breast cancer in 2004.

The unit was officially opened yesterday by Charles Hunniford, Gloria's brother, representing the Caron Keating Foundation.