WORK is complete on a £400,000 refurbishment of Airedale Hospital's pathology department.

The scheme has created more space to cope with an increasing workload and includes a new reception area.

Laboratories have been separated from administrative areas to improve access.

The blood sciences lab has been expanded and includes a new, larger cold store.

And the transfusion lab has relocated to a purpose-built area.

A helpline service, a central point for inquiries and offices for managers and consultants are situated near the entrance.

Work on the project, carried out by Davric, took place in nine phases so the department could remain open.

Mark Harrison, operational manager at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Over the past year the workload in our department has increased by an average of 10 per cent across all disciplines.

"The refurbishment will allow the team to have space for more automated equipment in the future and cope with a further increase in workload as more GPs send blood samples to us.

"Reorganising our administrative areas and lab space in this way will help us to improve our work flow. The whole place has a more clinical feel and is fit-for-purpose."

The team is now implementing a new laboratory computer system which aims to further improve efficiency.