A £900,000 project to improve the outpatients department at Macclesfield Hospital is set to start this month.

The major redevelopment will involve refurbishing the infrastructure of the department and changing its layout to make it easier to navigate, increase clinical space and result in a much improved and modernised environment.

New automated checking-in and patient calling systems will also be introduced as part of the project.

These will help reduce queuing, improve communication with patients around waiting times and make the process more efficient.

Work will take about six months to complete, although the department will continue to run as normal throughout the process with no reduction in appointments.

Mark Ogden, East Cheshire NHS Trust’s director of finance, said: “These improvements will create better flow for patients moving around the department and make the process of checking in easier and more efficient, while allowing us to keep patients informed about their appointments in real time.

“We will see an increase in clinical space and reception and a bright, modern environment for our patients and staff.

“There will inevitably be some disruption while the work takes place but once complete, it will result in a much-improved outpatients department which I am sure our local population will welcome.”

Patients are being asked to follow all relevant signage and safety advice while the work takes place.