THE redevelopment of Welwyn Garden City’s QEII Hospital has taken another step forward, with the approval of an outline business case.

NHS East of England (the strategic health authority)has given its approval to the document, which will go forward subject to the latest developments at Stevenage's Lister Hospital receiving the final go ahead from the Department of Health and the Treasury.

It has been agreed that detailed planning work on the new acute hospital development, which is scheduled to open in spring 2014, should continue, with new 24 hour A&E facility, GP services, day treatments and a dedicated children’s centre.

Other facilities include a rapid assessment unit (to support elderly people so that they don’t need to be admitted into hospital), a therapy unit, pre and post natal services and a specialist breast cancer unit.

The full business case, which must now be refined, will be assessed later in the year.

Jacqui Bunce, programme director said: “We are delighted that the first stage of the business case has been approved and we can continue our work to bring redevelopment plans to life.

"The next stage for us is to work on producing a full business case for the QEII, including details of clinical services, the proposed building programme, the capital and revenue costs and how the new QEII Hospital links to the Lister redevelopment.”