TWO new areas of Colchester General Hospital’s A&E department are opening this week as part of a £2.5million upgrade.

A new children’s unit within the department opened yesterday, followed by a new “majors” area for adults who have to be admitted to hospital opening tomorrow.

The whole project, which will see the resuscitation area double in size and the space for adults with minor injuries or illnesses expanded, will be completed by March.

It is intended to be a shortterm revamp ahead of the introduction of an Urgent Care Centre outside the department in 2015.

The upgrade will also help the hospital deal with the annual increase in patients needing urgent care during the winter.

Nick Chatten, special projects director at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said A&E staff had played an important role in ensuring the new children’s area was separate.

He said: “The current children’s area has only three treatment cubicles, but the new one has four and a triage cubicle where children can be treated as well as assessed.

“We will also have for the first time an observation area.”

The “majors” area is in what was a courtyard and will increase the number of treatment cubicles from 13 to 20.

Helen Krysinski, matron for emergency services, added: “It is a big project and we are now able to start reaping the benefits.”