SOUTHEND Hospital welcomed the Health Minister today to see the new A&E wing and £8.7million expansion of its radiotherapy unit.

Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, met Victoria Atkins, the Secretary of State for Health today to introduce her to the team and show her around the hospital's new features.

Echo: Victoria Atkins meeting with the bosses at Southend HospitalVictoria Atkins meeting with the bosses at Southend Hospital (Image: Anna Firth)

This included the new A&E wing, the newly expanded radiotherapy unit and the fracture liaison service.

Echo: Victoria Atkins and Anna Firth arrive at Southend HospitalVictoria Atkins and Anna Firth arrive at Southend Hospital (Image: Anna Firth)

Ms Firth said: "I was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Health, Victoria Atkins, to Southend Hospital today to meet the team and see the new A&E wing, the radiotherapy unit and the fracture liaison service."

Echo: Anna Firth with trust chief operating officer Andrew Pike and chief executive Matthew HopkinsAnna Firth with trust chief operating officer Andrew Pike and chief executive Matthew Hopkins (Image: Anna Firth)

The expansion of the radiotherapy unit will see it become home to new state-of-the-art equipment using beams of high energy X-rays or electrons to destroy cancer cells.

The fracture liaison service also aims to prevent further fractures and raise awareness of general bone health.