Morriston Hospital's new entrance opens in £60m development

The entrance hall and waiting area

The new main entrance to Morriston Hospital in Swansea has opened its doors as part of a £60m development of the site.

The opening will see the transfer of outpatient services from older sections of the hospital, with a phased moved over the coming weeks.

An estimated 264,000 patients will use the new block each year.

The work is part of a larger £102m redevelopment of the whole site, with new roads, a helipad and car park.

A specialist rehabilitation centre has also opened.

The first unit to move over will be endoscopy, which is due to open by the end of the month.

Work was supposed to be finished by last November

The range of services at the new building will include:

• General outpatients

• Paediatric outpatients

• Fracture clinic

• X-ray to support the general outpatients department

• Pre-assessment clinics

• Head and neck services

• Cleft lip and palate

• Blood tests

• Lung tests

• Education centre

• Endoscopy suites

A number of shops are due to open over the summer at the front of the building.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board chief executive Paul Roberts said: "We always want to improve our services and facilities, and this is a demonstrable example of how that is being achieved.

"It is a very proud moment for everybody."

The board's Disability Reference Group, which gave advice during the design and building phase, was given a tour of the facilities prior to the public opening.