Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has decided it will seek approval from the Welsh Government for the early opening of its new super hospital later this year.
The brand new hospital in Cwmbrân could open its doors in November, four months ahead of the current scheduled opening date of March 2021.
The decision was supported by the health board today and will now be presented to the Welsh Government for approval.
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan health board said that there is currently no known timeframe for when this decision may be taken.
Much of the hospital site is currently in the hands of supply chain partner, Laing O'Rourke, but was handed a "significant proportion" of the building in April and May as part of the health board's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and predicted first peak.
The health board was handed sections of the Grange University Hospital, including inpatient wards and children's assessment unit, to enable additional capacity of acute care beds if required to meet high levels of demand.
The proposed early opening would see the health board could potentially see the hospital open as a "specialist and critical care centre" as early as November.
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Today the health board has supported a proposal for the early opening of The Grange University Hospital for November 2020 as part of the our operational planning process and winter preparations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This proposal will now been submitted to Welsh Government for consideration and final approval.”
