PLANS have been revealed for the redevelopment of Northallerton's Friarage Hospital.

It is hoped work on the £34m project could start in six months with one of the first tasks being the removal of the temporary huts that house several departments.

Details of the revamp were presented to a meeting of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust last week and follow more than a year of talks about the need for investment at the site.

The redevelopment will be done in two phases and £2m is already available from existing capital sources.

The age and condition of the estate, access and safety issues, the suitability of much of the site for modern medicine and overall appearance of the hospital have all brought about the need for a revamp.

The trust's director of facilities and planning, Jill Moulton, said: "The Friarage has suffered from a piecemeal approach to planning and lack of investment."

Last year the trust held talks with senior clinicians and managers to consider problems and explore solutions and from this a strategy was formed.

One of the main areas of concern focuses on timber huts which house departments such as paediatrics, pathology, pharmacy and linen.

These are described as hot spots and will be removed as part of phase one, which should see new building taking place in 18 months, refurbishment in six months and pharmacy/kitchen replacement and revamp of support services in 12 months.

The cost of the first phase is put at £13.4m.

Phase two, costing £20.8m, will tackle the rest of the site, possibly relocating the mental health department and redeveloping the remainder of services housed in older building stock.

Ms Moulton said: "All this has been widely discussed with staff, management and in outline with Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust who are supportive of the approach."

She added that the financial implications were being worked through.

The scheme will be put to an autumn meeting of the trust board but in the meantime, talks will continue with other interested parties.