The next stage of plans to rebuild a hospital and replace its reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) have been approved.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, said a strategic outline case, which sets out why the hospital is needed and how the renovation would be delivered, was approved by ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The hospital was prioritised for rebuild by the government’s New Hospital Programme and is expected to open to patients in 2032.
Peter Cox, the programme director for the hospital, said: “We know the challenge we have ahead, and this approval means we can continue to move at pace in our plans for a new hospital.”
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital came bottom of the league table of 134 acute hospital trusts in England, which was published in September.
Mr Cox said the approval was an “important step” for the hospital.
Earlier this year, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the James Paget University Hospital merged into what is now known as the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group.
The James Paget University Hospital was also progressing plans for a new hospital in Gorleston-on-Sea.
Jo Segasby, the deputy group chief executive of Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, said approval had given them a “green light to progress further” with the rebuild.
She said the new hospital would be “among the most modern and digitally advanced hospitals in Europe”.
Work had started to relocate the trust’s helipad, with construction on a new multi-storey car park to start in 2026.
The next stage of the scheme would see a decision on the detailed designs and costing plans for the hospital.