A multi-million pound project set to transform The Royal Oldham Hospital has been approved.
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group will be given a four-storey extension to the main site building in Oldham - set to cost around £28m.
Approval means existing facilities will be demolished to make way for two new general surgery wards.
Each of these will be capable of holding 24 patients, and a new emergency theatre.
With its new facilities, the hospital will become the new "surgical hub" for major operations.
David Jago, chief officer at the hospital, said: “The new surgical hub will provide much needed expertise to the people of the north east of Greater Manchester.
"It will enable other developments at The Royal Oldham, which will advance our ambitions to provide care and employment to the people of Oldham and beyond.”
The Royal Oldham will be a key site for high risk or emergency general and colorectal procedures in the area, allowing the sickest patients across the region to access treatment in a new facility.
Dr Nick Tierney, divisional clinical director for surgery at the hospital, added: “This is fantastic news for the division of surgery and for all of the patients, staff and the population in Oldham and the surrounding areas.
"Having a new state of the art theatre for emergency and colorectal surgery will allow our surgeons to perform at the highest possible level with positive benefits in the quality of care delivered to our patients.”
Officials have selected IHP as the main contractor for the works, which are expected to start within the next few months.
Planning permission for the extension has already been granted, with a design that went through a public consultation in November 2019.
The new building is set to be open and ready for new patients by Spring 2023.
