HILLINGDON Hospital’s new acute medical unit and endoscopy department took a step closer to completion when the final piece of 75 modules was put into place by a giant crane.

The £13.5m building has quietly been taking shape behind the main hospital tower for the past five months and marks the largest single redevelopment project in the past 20 years.

The 46-bed AMU will be linked to the emergency department, accommodating emergency admissions who would normally be treated and discharged within 72 hours.

Its benefits include reducing the number of times a patient is moved between wards and better access to senior clinicians.

The redevelopment, to be completed by the end of this year, has already seen improvements made to the hospital’s A&E department and paediatric emergency department.

The AMU will open its door to patients in January 2015.