The president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Dr Judith Hulf, will perform the opening which marks the completion of the first phase of a major refurbishment scheme of intensive care facilities at Worthing Hospital, which serves patients from the South Downs.

Specially designed and equipped to protect the seriously ill patients from healthcare associated infections, the unit has a special air conditioning system and isolation cubicles.

The high performance negative/positive air pressure cubicles prevent germs from getting in, or out, and helps aid cleaning between patients. The air conditioning also enables a constant temperature to be maintained in the unit at all times.

The distance between beds has more than doubled in the new unit and the specialist monitoring equipment connected to each patient is suspended from the ceiling on hydraulic pendants giving staff 360 degree access to their patient.

The intensive care unit at Worthing Hospital opened ten years ago providing accommodation for 18 patients – six in intensive care, six in the high dependency unit and six in coronary care.

The unit - which treats around 700 patients each year from across West Sussex - has an excellent clinical reputation and is the only unit outside a teaching hospital in the southern area credited for advance level ITU teaching.

Director of ITU, Dr Shaun Anderson said: "ITU patients are our sickest and most vulnerable so I am delighted that we have been able to carry out these improvements which will allow us to give patients in West Sussex the best chance for recovery."

Phase two of the scheme is to refurbish the high dependency unit. The work includes installing air conditioning and establishing a relatives' lounge with money provided by the Worthing Hospital League of Friends. Work on this phase should be completed in May.

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