New look to Oswestry hospital

New technology and old fashioned friendliness have combined to create a warm new welcome at Oswestry's orthopaedic hospital.

Visitors using the £2.7 million entrance for the first time yesterday were greeted by volunteer ambassadors, bar code scanners to help check them in and even a holographic meeter and greeter.

This is a life-sized machine which welcomes people to the hospital and tells them what to do next.

Bosses say this is the first time the high-tech equipment has been used in the NHS.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has spend 10 months on the new entrance, which is part of a £4.5 million investment.

This has involved removing the nurses' home, relocating services, and building a patient and visitor car park, as well as the new entrance and conference facilities.

Chief Executive, Wendy Farrington Chadd, said: "As an NHS foundation trust, we have re-invested our surpluses and some £600,000 of charitable donations into the fantastic new development for patients and visitors.

"I am very pleased that the new facilities have provided employment for local firms and local people."

Within the new entrance, patients can self check-in at kiosks using the bar coded letters that they are sent.