IT MADE a grand entry.

Southampton General Hospital’s new £2.5million entrance was officially opened yesterday and received a warm welcome from staff and patients.

The development was built using 77 tonnes of steel, 6,700 floor tiles, 2,750 sq ft of glass and will see more than 10,000 people pass through its doors every weekday.

The development features a wide and welcoming reception desk with a new waiting area and a range of food outlets including Subway and M&S Simply Food and Cafe.

The League of Friends shop, Costa Coffee, the hospital chemist, Stockshop and WH Smith remain.

Gone is the controversial Burger King fast food restaurant, which was axed after more than 20 years as hospital bosses ruled it no longer fitted the “healthcare environment”, but was the subject of a petition to save it.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has also launched a new programme to improve staff health and wellbeing, with fresh fruit on offer to those at the opening.

All the food brands have signed up to the Government’s public health responsibility deal, which includes pledges such as calorie, salt and saturated fat reduction, non-use of artificial trans fats and the inclusion of a range of fruit and vegetable options.