BREAST care at Bolton's hospital has received a boost thanks to the renovation of a disused building.

Royal Bolton Hospital has just opened its new Evergreen Suite in a building near the Chadwick carpark.

Andrea McCann, breast services nurse manager, explained: “We now have two treatment suites for breast services ­— the Sunflower Suite in A block, which is where we used to be, and the Evergreen Suite.

“We used to be all together in the Sunflower Suite and it was very crowded.

“Now we have this additional lovely, modern, spacious, facility for the patients and staff.”

The £160,000 works on the Evergreen Suite were carried out over the summer and autumn by iFM Bolton and specialist contractors. They have provided five consulting areas, a staff room, offices, a doctors’ library and a new waiting area. The work also included a new floor, ceiling and redecoration.

The unit has been supported through funds raised by patients, community groups and the staff – who themselves raised £10,000 through a ‘boogie night’.

Nurse Nora Bradbury also raised £1,500 by running the Manchester 10k

Neil Bradshaw, project manager for iFM, said: “The partial refurbishment of what was a disused building went very well and provides a much improved working area for staff.”

Women referred for investigation by their GP receive mammograms and ultrasound at the Sunflower Suite. A biopsy may also be taken.

Patients then attend the Evergreen Suite to receive their results and aftercare.