New community hospital bid backed

Proposals for a £35m community hospital in Northamptonshire have been approved by the local primary care trust (PCT).

The plans to turn the Willowbrook Health Complex in Corby into a hospital were backed by the Northamptonshire Teaching PCT.

The new hospital, in Cottingham Road, will have 60 beds, increased and modernised health services, and increased outpatient facilities.

The expected opening date for the Corby project is Spring 2012.

John Parkes, chief executive at Northamptonshire Teaching PCT, said: "The aim of the project is to improve the accessibility of health care services for people living in one of the most deprived areas of Northamptonshire.

"Getting the outline business case approved by the PCT Board is an important step forward, and it will then need to be approved by the Department of Health.

"The next step for us in Northamptonshire will be deciding how services should be delivered on the site, and for that, we need the public's views."