North Durham A&E expansion given go-ahead
- Published
The current A&E department treats twice as many patients it was built for
Plans for a £30m expansion of North Durham's A&E department have been unanimously approved by councillors.
The unit at the University Hospital of North Durham has been deemed "out of date" and "not fit for purpose".
Built to treat about 32,000 people per year, it now has 65,000 patients through its doors.
Councillor Keith Davidson, chairman of the strategic planning committee, said the new unit would "benefit residents across the county".
Professor Chris Gray, executive medical director at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I'm naturally very pleased. I think this is really good news.
"What this will mean is more seamless care, fewer waiting times, greater facilities... and hopefully their experience will be much, much more positive."
The trust said it was hoped the new department would be built by 2019.