Work on a new £225m hospital in Tunbridge Wells in the UK is to start immediately after plans were given the green light.
Pembury Hospital will have 512 beds, with the first new facilities proposed to open in early 2011 and the project due for completion by autumn 2012.
The hospital has been designed to maximise infection control with separate planned and emergency areas to reduce the risk of infection, an NHS spokesperson said.
The facility will feature a full range of services, including planned and emergency surgery, orthopaedics, a women and children’s centre and outpatient services.
Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, said: “This is a momentous day for everyone in Tunbridge Wells and West Kent.
“The whole community has campaigned for so long for the new Pembury Hospital to be built and after years of frustration and setback, we now have the final go-ahead with building work starting this month.
“It is thrilling that local hospital facilities are at last to be catapulted into the 21st century.”
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