LYDNEY Hospital's new £427,000 casualty department was officially opened by Mr David Mabey, chairman of the Mabey Group, on Tuesday.
The project has been made possible by a substantial financial contribution of £175,000 from the Friends of Lydney Hospital, £50,000 from The Mabey Group and £202,000 from the local NHS.
The refurbishment and extension now means the hospital has three treatment rooms, one large treatment room, direct ambulance access into the clinical area, dedicated plaster and eye treatment rooms, nurse station and office and a new reception and waiting area with a small creche.
Describing the fund-raising as a great team effort, manager Jeanette Giles particularly thanked the Friends for their great drive and enthusiasm.
She paid tribute to the staff and local doctors who, she said, had worked hard to make the hospital a centre of excellence.
"Despite the great changes of the last few years and in particular the recent building work they have continued to maintain a warm and welcoming atmosphere with the personal touch that means so much to patients, relatives and friends. This is an enormous reflection on their patience, fortitude and standard of care," she said.
Chairman of the Friends, Mr Melville Watts, said the partnership had worked to the benefit of the whole community. The redevelopment had been a dream for a decade or more and followed the success story of the ward upgrade in 2001.
"I am grateful to the former Severn NHS Trust and Health Authority, the Friends, the Bream Health Forum, the District Council, and the West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust who all gave their unanimous support to this latest stage of hospital modernisation," said Mr Watts.