Health services get £300m revamp

The plans include a new casualty unit at the RVI

A £300m plan to transform hospital services on Tyneside have been approved by health authority bosses.

Under the Private Finance Initiative plans, Newcastle's casualty department will be moved from the General Hospital to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

New cancer and renal units will also be built at the city's Freeman Hospital.

The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority has hailed the plan is a major step forward for the region.

Due to the size of the scheme, approval will now be sought from the Department of Health and the Treasury.

Subject to the government's go-ahead, work could start on site this April.

Preparatory work has already taken place at both hospitals and it is expected that the new cancer and kidney centres at the Freeman Hospital will open in 2008 and that the new facilities at the RVI will be phased in over four years from 2008.

Dialysis stations

David Flory, chief executive of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority, said: "This is a plan to transform the quality of hospital services in Newcastle by moving clinical services out of old, out-dated buildings and into new, modern accommodation.

"There will be 99 extra beds, more critical care facilities, additional operating theatres, extra radiotherapy treatment machines and more kidney dialysis stations.

"Ultimately all acute services from Newcastle General Hospital will be moved to purpose designed buildings at the Freeman Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary."

The Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment will move from Newcastle General Hospital to the Freeman Hospital.

The new centre will have additional radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment facilities.

The new renal services centre at the Freeman Hospital will bring together all existing kidney services, including transplants, renal medicine and dialysis. There will be 40 dialysis stations.