'ONCE in a generation' improvements to the Isle of Wight's only hospital have been given the green light.
Three new extensions will now be built at St Mary's Hospital in Newport as part of its £48 million 'Investing in Our Future' programme, after planning permission was granted by the Isle of Wight Council.
The projects will see the intensive care unit, fracture clinic, urgent treatment centre, emergency department and acute ward all upgraded.
There will be a devoted emergency care floor, separating the adult and children patient flows and incorporating a dedicated children's wing.
The fracture clinic will move from the main hospital block to the north site, with the existing clinic converted into an outpatient area.
A new 18-bed acute surgical ward will also be created through the reconfiguration of the pathology area.
Interim chief executive of the IW NHS Trust, Dr Nikki Turner, said: "Approval of these ambitious plans is a welcome step forward in delivering a once in a generation investment into local NHS services.
"Our Investing in Our Future programme will deliver better NHS buildings and IT that improve the services on offer to Islanders now and in the future."
Other projects in the investment programme include the integrated physical and mental health hub built in the former HMV shop on Newport High Street.
Of the £48 million given to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust by government in 2019, £10 million has been invested in hospital beds at Portsmouth Hospital University Trust to ensure Islanders who need to be treated on the mainland can have a bed.
Plans were also recently unveiled for the remainder of the money which could see affordable housing built for nurses and staff, a care home and assisted living accommodation on the St Mary's site.
The £25.5 million estates improvement strategy could also see improvements to the ambulance station, to hopefully improve turn-around times.
Dr Turner said: "These exciting changes are an important part of the trust's plans to innovate and improve the services we provide.
"We are pleased to have already secured planning permission and look forward to sharing more information about the plans."
She said the only remaining hurdle was securing regulatory funding approval in the coming weeks.
All improvement projects are hoped to be completed by March 2024.
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