THE hospital's new eye units have been lifted into place by a 200ft crane.

Salisbury District Hospital had 15 units, which were built offsite and transported by lorry to Salisbury, placed on the site yesterday (August 17).

The units will create one large new outpatient eye department for the hospital.

It comes as part of a £3 million project of changes right across the hospital site to improve patient experiences.

The changes include the remodelling of wards, expansion of the Acute Medical Unit, the creation of a short stay surgical unit and the new purpose designed outpatient area for eye patients.

The units were designed using the views of clinical teams and feedback from patients.

The new eye department, which is set to open in the autumn, will revolutionise eye care for patients at Salisbury District Hospital.

The current eye department is located across two separate sections on level 3 of the hospital, making it harder for staff to manage clinics and more confusing for patients.

Cara Charles-Barks, chief executive at the hospital, said: “The new department will have more space, better waiting areas and a brighter, colourful and more welcoming environment, which is designed specifically with our eye patients’ needs in mind.

"For our staff, it will make it easier for them to manage the movement of patients during clinics, improving the overall care we can provide for them.”

Work on other parts of the project are ongoing, with the movement of medical and surgical wards taking place and the redesign and refurbishment of other areas, including the expanded acute medical unit.

The works are creating more jobs at the hospital which can be seen on the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust page on NHS jobs at www.jobs.nhs.uk.

The Trust will shortly have displays in Springs Restaurant on level 2 at Salisbury District Hospital, which will give patients more information about the changes that are taking place across the site.