NEWCASTLE Falcons director of rugby Rob Andrew is to officially open the new extended endoscopy suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital this week.

The suite, which will allow the hospital to expand its endoscopy services, has been funded by a £470,000 Government grant awarded to South Durham Health Care NHS Trust last year.

Health chiefs say it will include "one-stop" clinics aimed at cutting the number of hospital visits patients make.

Former Barnard Castle School pupil Andrew is due to open the suite at 2.30pm on Friday.