PATIENTS will be given the red carpet treatment when a new hospital opens on Monday.

Longridge Community Hospital, which was commissioned by CommuniCare NHS Trust, cost £2.5million and has taken two years to complete.

Two patients are to be transferred from Ribchester Hospital to the new unit on Monday, where they will be greeted by directors and senior managers who will present them with a welcoming bouquet of flowers.

The facilities at the new hospital will provide a health centre on the ground floor which will be a base for community nursing services, including district nursing, health visiting and community psychiatric nursing services.

In addition chiropody/ podiatry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, child health services, family planning and opthalmic clinics, will be provided to at the hospital.

The first floor will have a 15-bedded ward that will replace the provision at Ribchester Hospital. The ward is split into four-bedded, two-bedded and single-room units with a dining/sitting room for patients.