The area at Grantham Hospital is looking "quite jaded", emergency nurse manager Paul Lewis said. "It is the shop window for the hospital and it is important to have it refurbished," he added.

"People from the Grantham area are having to travel a minimum of 20 miles to find the nearest alternative hospital with maternity unit or for accident and emergency if they are critically ill.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has set out plans to temporarily close Grantham Hospital’s emergency department at night time, because of staff shortages and patient safety concerns. The trust ...