THE final piece of the puzzle for the £60million rejuvenation of Burnley General Hospital is back on track, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.

An outline business case for the new ‘Phase 8’ development at the Casterton Avenue complex will be placed before board members of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust next month.

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And if the proposals are passed by hospital leaders, it is hoped the package can be ratified by the NHS Trust Development Authority before the summer is out so work can begin.

Former Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle, who worked to secure £15.6million from ex-Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander during the final days of the Coalition government, has heralded the announcement.

Work would initially be required to remove several older hospital buildings before the new centre, for a specialist eyecare unit and centralised outpatients department, is constructed.

Mr Birtwistle said: “I am delighted that the unit is now moving forward and hopefully it will be approved so work can begin as soon as possible.

“It’s better later than never but a lot of work went into securing that money and the unit is clearly needed.”

Jonathan Wood, ELHT’s finance director, said: “The next stage in the exciting development of the Burnley General Hospital site Phase 8 continues to make progress and an outline business case is currently being finalised.

“Once agreed by our trust board, the business case will go to the NHS Trust Development Authority for final approval. The monies required for the new build will come from the Department of Health.

“The development – which will contain a state-of-the-art ophthalmology unit, will centralise general outpatients in one location, provide an updated maxillo-facial unit with laboratory (for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck), and include a new health records area with supporting ancillary services.”

Several key stakeholders, including the borough and county councils, were updated on progress with the development recently.

“This project will complete an investment of more than £60million over the last 10 years in the Burnley General Hospital site, ensuring that the trust delivers integrated and high quality safe, personal and effective care that meets the increasing needs of our local population,” added Mr Wood.

County Cllr Azhar Ali, the county council’s health and wellbeing cabinet member, who represents the Nelson South division, said: “This is great news. “Clearly, there have been some delays but this will upgrade facilities at Burnley General and provide much-improved services for ophthalmology and outpatients.”