Work has been completed on the new state-of-the-art Endoscopy Unit at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill.

The suite, with a preparation room, four admission rooms, four procedure rooms and 12 recovery beds in two single sex wards, has just opened as part of the hospital's £14 million redevelopment scheme.

Despite only opening this month, the unit has already been dealing with 300 patients a week.

The hospital already carries out about 8,000 endoscopy procedures a year.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined internally using an endoscope.

The new suite will allow Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, to provide a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures.

It boasts state-of-the-art instruments and accessories, advanced disinfection and sterilising methods, and specialist endoscopy nurses and doctors.

Trust chief executive Michael Wilson said: “We are making huge progress in improving diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients who come to the Endoscopy Suite, and are absolutely delighted that the suite is now open.”

Rosemary Goodchild, Endoscopy Unit manager, said: “The opening of the Endoscopy Suite is a big step forward for the Endoscopy team.

“We would like to thank our clients for their understanding during redevelopment of the Endoscopy Suite.

“Our aim is to treat patients with privacy and dignity and the opening of the new suite will allow us to care for our patients in a modern and friendly environment.”

The Trust's £14 million improvement project also includes a new day surgery unit and children's outpatients centre, scheduled for completion this winter, and a modernised and enlarged Emergency Department and new modular ward building, both scheduled for completion in the spring.

Next summer, the refurbished Hazelwood Ward and the hospital's new main entrance are due to be finished.

As well as running the East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides a range of services at hospitals in Crawley, Horsham, Dorking, Caterham and the Oxted Health Centre.

East Surrey Hospital serves a growing population of 350,000 residents in East Surrey and North-east West Sussex and is the designated hospital for Gatwick Airport and the M25.

The Trust employs about 2,900 staff and has an annual budget of £187 million.

More details from its website: www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk