New £8m intensive care unit opens

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Doctors admit the old facilities were inadequate and overcrowded

A new intensive care unit has been opened at the South West's biggest hospital.

About 1,500 patients are treated in intensive care at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital every year.

The purpose built, state-of-the-art £8.2m unit is divided into two 14-bed units, bringing together general and neuro critical care facilities.

Each critical bed costs £110,000 to kit out and approximately £400,000 a year to run.

The unit, which is based in the hospital's new Terence Lewis building, also has two specially-designed rooms with adjustable positive and negative air pressure to help with infection control and prevention.

Ian Wren, the matron and manager for intensive care, said: "It is traumatic enough for patients and their families to have to come into our department, without them having to contend with cramped, out-of-date facilities.

"Now, with our new Department, we can offer some of the very best facilities in the country combined with some of the highest quality medical care available, which should make the experience more comfortable and better for patients, their families and our staff."

Patients will move into the new unit next month.