WORLD champion triathlete Jonny Brownlee is visiting Airedale Hospital on Tuesday to officially open the new Emergency Department.

The visit will also be a celebration that staff have achieved their £100,000 target for their Emergency Department Appeal.

Jonny will tour the new department and staff will have the chance to meet and chat to him.

Born in Bramhope, Jonny is 2012 Triathlon World Champion and Olympic Triathlon Bronze medallist. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School before attending the University of Leeds. He used to swim for Aireborough Swimming club and is a member of the Bingley Harriers.

Meg Crossley, consultant in emergency medicine and project lead said: “Our Emergency Department Appeal was launched just over a year ago and we have had tremendous support from our local community.

“We are delighted that have achieved our target of £100,000 within such a short space of time thanks to the generosity of local people, businesses and our own staff who have given donations and spent time organising a whole host of activities to help boost our funds.

“We are very grateful for the help of our sponsors who backed the Appeal from the start – but also to all the others who came on board throughout the year to make sure that we have an Emergency Department that really is fit for the 21st century.”

The funds have been used for resources for our new state-of-the-art department including distraction walls, an interactive floor for the children’s waiting area, a sky ceilings, equipment and facilities to help patients with dementia and cardiac monitors for the general assessment areas.

Fundraising events over the past year have included a Great Gatsby Ball for staff and the public, live bake off master class by master baker, Mike Armstrong at Laycock Village Hall, a three Peaks Challenge by A&E staff, and a Tour de France sponsored event by HR staff.

The new £6m Emergency Department opened its doors in December 2014. It provides much improved facilities including separate adult and children’s waiting areas, a quiet room for friends and families to use during stressful events and better privacy and dignity for vulnerable older patients and their families and carers.

During the past financial year, there were 53,489 people visiting Airedale A&E Department and 5,012 that were aged five and under. On a busy day over 200 patients and their families attend the ED.