The first patients are now being cared for in a new £3m intensive care unit at South Tyneside District Hospital.
A top consultant at the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust has described the new unit as having "some of the best facilities in the world". There are six individual rooms featuring "smart glass" which can be switched between opaque and clear at the touch of a button.
The rooms also have new modern equipment, while there is also a dedicated entrance for the unit and a new reception area. Staff areas have also been improved with new seminar and break rooms and improved changing areas. The set-up mirrors the Sunderland Royal critical care unit, helping staff who work in both locations.
