Northumberland County Council’s planning and environment committee granted permission for the development to be built alongside the A189 to the south of East Cramlington.

 

The state-of-the-art hospital will be the first in England to have emergency care consultants on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Medical evidence shows that having the right specialist on hand to treat patients saves lives and significantly improves recovery. In addition to emergency care consultants, the hospital will also be staffed by highly-trained and experienced medical professionals representing all the main clinical specialities. 

 

Alongside the significant health benefits, the hospital is a major boost to the local economy, representing an investment of £2.7m per month through the construction period and employing around 1,000 people across the lifetime of the build.

 

The Trust is committed to ensuring that as much of this investment goes to local businesses as possible.

 

The development has been supported by thousands of doctors, nurses, members of the public, carers, GPs and MPs during the public consultation two years ago. In fact three out of four people attending the public consultation were in favour of the development. It has also been approved by NHS North of Tyne, the commissioners of health services in the area, regulators Monitor and the National Clinical Director and advisor to the Department of Health about emergency care.

 

Jim Mackey, chief executive at the Trust, said: “We are delighted that councillors have supported the hospital and recognise that it will save lives and dramatically improve care for patients in Northumberland and North Tyneside.

 

“It is part of our £200million investment to bring world-class care to our communities and gives our populations access to some of the best healthcare in the country and internationally.

 

“The hospital will, in the main, treat the patients from Northumberland and North Tyneside who currently receive care at our existing hospitals and allow us to deliver emergency care more effectively on this new site.

 

“This is a major investment in the health of our local communities and provides much-needed jobs in the current economic climate.

“The councillors’ decision represents a major step forward for the hospital. However, we recognise that further work will be required before development can start.”

 

Throughout the process of planning the specialist emergency care hospital, the Trust has involved the public and engaged with the local community and amended the scheme, where possible, to address concerns.

 

The site was identified following rigorous analysis which confirmed there are no alternative sites which are suitable, available or viable.

 

In preparation for the new hospital, the Trust has strengthened its team of specialists by recruiting some of the country’s top doctors. It has also been approached by numerous consultants eager to work in the hospital having been so impressed with the plans.

 

The new emergency care hospital will have a state-of-the art A&E department, admission and in-patient wards, hi-tech diagnostics and critical care as well as a short-stay paediatric facility and a maternity unit.

 

The innovative design, over three floors, includes wards which are arranged around a central nurses’ station which will improve the ability of staff to observe patients and deliver high-quality care. Northumbria Healthcare staff have helped shape the design of the hospital and patient care is at the forefront.

 

Work is expected to start early next year with building work estimated to take around two years to complete.