Improvements to Wexham Park A&E department to be completed by October

Grant Macdonald, deputy chief executive of Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospital Trust, revealed the news at Maidenhead Town Hall last night.

He was speaking to members of the Royal Borough's adult services and health overview and scrutiny panel.

Mr Macdonald said: "The refurbishment will increase the size of A&E by 30 per cent.

"We feel the changes will be big enough for what we project will happen this winter (for patient numbers)."

The revamp will see a new waiting room built with the existing one becoming an assessment area for patients arriving by ambulance and other changes to cope with increased capacity.

He said the A&E department improved performance in June, but struggled to maintain it in July.

"It is up and down and we are working with our partners to make it less volatile," said Mr Macdonald.

The trust's long-term plan is to build a new A&E department.