A NEW £3.4 million urology unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary was officially opened.

The unit, on the hospital's top floor, is one of the most modern in the country.

It has a 23-bed male ward and an 11-bed female ward to care for patients from throughout Huddersfield and Calderdale.

There is also a 10-bed assessment unit with capacity to expand further in the future.

Five consultants will head the teams at the centralised unit which caters for men and women of all ages with all conditions affecting the kidneys, the bladder and the prostate, including cancers.

It expects to deal with 1,500 planned operations and 750 emergency cases a year.

The Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust brought in Halifax MP Linda Riordan to perform the opening ceremony.

General manager Maureen Overton said: "The new modern facility ensures that patients' privacy and dignity has been catered for in the design of the unit.

"I feel that the health trust has provided an excellent unit for all patients."

Work started converting the former orthopaedic wards last November but the planning of the unit has been under way since 2001.

Mr Siva Namasivayan joined the unit as consultant on December 1 - strengthening the team of consultants from four to five.

He said: "This unit is a tremendous asset for the people of this area.

"Huddersfield Royal Infirmary has a unit where patients will receive the best care in beautiful surroundings. I am very proud to have joined the team as it goes from strength to strength."

During the design process patients were consulted over the colour scheme and they selected turquoise paint together with beech woodwork and chrome trim.

Another special feature of the unit is the extra number of bathrooms incorporated into the design to ensure privacy and comfort.

The unit was formed from the merger of two former separate units at HRI and Calderdale Royal Hospital.

The opening ceremony was combined with the presentation of a £1,000 cheque from the Freemasons provincial grandmaster's fund to the urology unit.