The NSW government has unveiled design images of the $780 million upgrade of Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.
The plans include a new seven-storey acute services building, which will house a new emergency department, critical care services, more operating theatres, a birth suite, neonatal intensive care and special nursery care.
NSW Health said the upgrade would boost intensive care capacity at the hospital by 60 per cent, and provide almost 50 per cent more theatres.
John Hunter is the busiest hospital in NSW outside of Sydney, serving patients from Newcastle to as far north as Lismore.
Concept plans were unveiled last year and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it had taken a large group of people to develop the new designs to fit the site.
Bridges will connect the new acute services building to the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the existing hospital building.
The plans have been lodged with the Department of Planning and Mr Hazzard said they would be approved quickly.
Mr Hazzard said staff and patients would likely be using the new facilities by 2026.
