ARROWE Park Hospital welcomed the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside who wanted to see the care provided for the elderly in the borough.

Dame Lorna Muirhead visited the Older Person’s Assessment Unit (OPAU) at Wirral University Teaching Hospital to have the opportunity to speak to staff and patients on the unit which opened its doors a year ago.

The unit promises to offer an innovative approach to providing care for older patients.

Dame Lorna, who is the Queen’s representative in Merseyside, said: “It was wonderful to be invited to this very special unit to see first-hand the important care that is being provided for older people in Wirral.

“I show a very keen interest in knowing just how our health system works to ensure the needs of our older community are being met. This was a humbling opportunity to meet and talk to so many patients.

“I would like to thank the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their patient-centred care they provide day in and day out and what is clearly a very busy time for the NHS.”

Director of nursing and midwifery Gaynor Westray said: “We are extremely proud of the excellent care that we provide to our older patients and it was wonderful to welcome Dame Lorna to see what we do on the unit.

“This OPAU has an important function in our hospital. It allows us to decide the best care for our patients at an early stage which can prevent the need to come into the hospital unnecessarily.”