a crane lifts into place one of 11 sections of a bridge which will join together three hospital buildings. Hemel Hempstead General Hospital's 200-metre link, which cost pounds500,000, opens in September. The bridge has been warmly praised by managers. Michael Clarke, head of estates at the unit, said: 'This will mean we can get between all of the patient areas using floor-covered routes, rather than having to use ambulances to take patients to and from operating theatres.'