THREE clinics are preparing to return to the transformed ground floor of the new look outpatient department at Southend Hospital.

The anti-coagulant, phlebotomy (blood tests) and medical and pre-assessment clinics will be the first to move back to the bright and airy quarters this weekend (June 11 and 12).

These will be followed by ENT and general surgery on June 18 and 19.

Patients with outpatient appointments after these dates are asked to report straight to the new reception area where they will be able to take advantage of simple-to-use automated touch-screen check-in machines.