With its chrome furniture and modern art displays, you could be forgiven for mistaking Kingston Hospitals new casualty department for an art gallery.

Hospital chiefs hope the £6 million state of the art facility, which opens at 3am on Saturday, December 8, will offer a more attractive and comfortable environment for staff and patients.

The new building, situated near the Rowan Bentall Wing, is twice the size of the old casualty department.

A hospital spokesman said: Gone are the now dated NHS trademark creams and greens.

Making a bold modernisation statement, its more akin to an art gallery with its curves and clean lines, strong primary colours, its swirls and geometric shapes and its chrome furniture.

By the end of the year, modern art work will be displayed around the department and final-year students of Roehampton Institute are already hard at work on their creations.

Architect Kevin Harwood, of Watkins Grey International, said: We have used different materials to try to create a modern look to reflect modern trends in medicine. The interior makes bold use of colour to create a lively and interesting feel.

The new department has a separate area for nurse practitioners to deal with minor injuries, freeing up doctors to deal with more serious conditions.

There is a waiting room, a large serious injury area with 16 cubicles, a childrens area which is double the size of the old one, two triage rooms, a resuscitation bay with five beds, and rooms to enable staff and patients to have more comfort and privacy.

Chief executive John Langan said: I am thrilled that after making do for so long in a cramped department built in the 60s to cater for a third of the patients we now see, we can look forward to being able to accommodate people in space and comfort.

The benefits to patient care will be immediately apparent as will the dramatically improved working conditions for staff.

A spokesman for Kingston community health council said: This is good news for patients. The old department was small and cramped. We will have to see whether this helps reduce waiting times on trolleys.

By.Steven Shukor