PLANS for a £1.3 million extension to Bolton's A&E department to make it 'fit for the 21st century' have been put forward.

The hospital's foundation trust has submitted an application to extend and improve the site's A&E department to make it easier to 'stream' patients to the correct services.

The extension to the front of A&E will include two more resuscitation bays and a new ambulance transfer room to improve care.

The new extension will also provide additional minor injuries rooms and better waiting facilities.

According to Gilling Dod Architects, said: "The ground floor extensions will provide new facilities that will enable the hospital to provide a service fit for the 21st century whilst maintaining the overall patient experience."

Funding for the £1.3 million extension is half coming from the Royal Bolton Hospital Foundation Trust and half from the Department of Health.

This extension comes just months after a £3.2 million expansion to improve the major injury capacity of the department by adding five cubicles, this was funded by the Department of Health.

A spokeswoman for the foundation trust said: "This year we are doing work to improve patient “streaming” with an extension to the front of A & E and improved waiting areas.

"This means that on arrival at the department patients who not come in by ambulance can be assessed as to which service they need, for example a GP or other service.

"This is all part of plans to increase the capacity of our emergency department, make a better experience for patients, and better working conditions for staff."

On Monday in his weekly column, Bolton's Clinical Commissioning Group chairman, Wirin Bhatiani said 34 patients a day are being streamed from A&E and in future the plan is to extend this to mental health professionals and the Home First service to increase the options available to patients and relieve A&E pressure.