WORK is expected to start on a project to rebuild one of the region's busiest hospitals later this year.
Newcastle City Council's development control committee has approved a £180m project to expand and modernise the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The work will be carried out by the Newcastle Hospitals' NHS Trust under a private finance partnership. It will take about ten years to complete.
The scheme involves the demolition of several buildings and the construction of hospitals for adults and children on the cleared site with an extra 107 beds and 726 additional staff
Plans include a new accident and emergency department and a helicopter pad replacing the landing area at nearby Castle Leazes.
Councillors welcomed the project to modernise the RVI, but some expressed concern about the quality of the design of the new buildings and possible parking and transport problems.
There was also a call for health chiefs to work with the police to ensure safety measures are put in place in the hospital grounds to protect visitors and staff.
Work is due to start on the adult hospital in August for completion in 2008.
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