Go-ahead for £30m transplant unit

The unit is expected to be completed by the end of 2010

The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle is set to become one of Britain's foremost transplant centres.

Newcastle City Council gave planning permission on Friday for a £30m expansion to the existing unit.

The new transplant institute, described as the first of its kind in the UK, is to include dedicated operation theatres and recovery wards.

The expansion to the unit will prevent other operations being cancelled to make way for transplants.

'Save money'

Building work, which is due to start on the unit in a matter of weeks, is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Sir Leonard Fenwick, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals, said: "If an organ becomes available we've got to use the existing facilities.

"This then demands cancellation, or else the staff have to work through the night.

"We'd rather be able to do this work in normal hours, and avoid cancelling other operations.

"So this new unit will make us more efficient, we believe we'd achieve better outcomes, and in the end we would also save money."