Photo/ interview opportunity: 1.40pm on Wednesday 11 April in the committee room at West Suffolk Hospital. Dame Carol Black, UK national director for health and work, unveils a plaque to mark the official opening of the new emergency assessment unit.

Professor Dame Carol Black will officially open West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s new emergency assessment unit (EAU) on Wednesday (11 April).

Dame Carol, who is the UK national director for health and work, will unveil a plaque before visiting the new unit to tour the facilities and meet staff.

The 17-bed EAU opened earlier this year following a major £800,000 project to improve and modernise facilities. The ward was completely refurbished, with toilets, wet rooms and windows replaced and medical gas and suction installed to every bed space. The whole ward has also been redecorated using contrasting finishes to help reduce confusion and falls in patients with dementia.

Gwen Nuttall, executive chief operating officer at the hospital, said: “We are delighted that Dame Carol has agreed to visit West Suffolk Hospital and officially open our new EAU.

“We are really pleased with the refurbishment, which has been completed to a very high standard and has been well received by patients, staff and visitors. Its location, directly above our A&E unit, is also making it easier for us to transfer patients between the two, in turn helping us work more efficiently.”

Patients are referred to the short stay EAU by their GP or A&E. They are then assessed and tests completed before a decision is taken on whether to discharge them or admit them to the main hospital. The majority of patients remain in EAU for between 24 and 48 hours.

The former EAU, which is located on the other side of the building, has become a flexible area which the hospital can use during busy periods or while deep cleaning is taking place elsewhere