Hospital's A&E department sees road closure for new unit

Image caption, A crane outside the entrance of the hospital's accident and emergency department

A hospital in Middlesbrough has temporarily closed the main access road to its accident and emergency department for five days.

The James Cook University Hospital A&E department will remain open for the public.

Patients are being advised to use the north entrance via Roseberry Park on Marton Road, including pedestrians.

The road closure is in place to enable the hospital's new urgent treatment centre to be built, which is due to open in March.

Image source, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Image caption, This image shows the road closure in place at the James Cook University Hospital

The road and footpath closure is in place from Thursday 30 November until the afternoon of Monday 4 December.

During the five-day period, a crane will be positioned outside A&E to lift modular blocks on to the site of the new urgent treatment centre.

Bosses at the hospital are however keen to stress that A&E remains open for patients.

Andy Hebron, clinical director for the emergency department, said: "It is just a road closure, the emergency department will be open as it always is, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we'll be able to help any patients that come to us."

The trust is urging people to still call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.

Image caption, There are road closure signs outside the entrance to accident and emergency