NHS chiefs have teased further details of a planned multimillion-pound overhaul at a County Durham hospital.

Work on a major renovation and rebuild at Shotley Bridge Hospital has reportedly been allocated about £30 million by ministers, with completion targeted for 2024.

And according to the latest proposals, as well as maintaining the services currently offered from the site, including an out of hours home visiting option, extra inpatients beds could also be offered.

A presentation prepared for Durham County Council has promised continued ‘commitment to continuing extensive range of clinics and outpatient services provided’. And an ‘overnight visiting service’ could also be on the cards to ‘reduce need for patients to travel to site’ out of hours.

Members of the county council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee are due to hear more details of the scheme from the County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) when the panel meets next Thursday(April 15).

A business case for the plans, including designs and preferred location, is due to be ready next month (May), followed by public consultation, with construction slated to start in June next year (2022).

Working to current draft time lines, building could be finished by ‘early 2024’, with refurbishment of the existing Shotley Bridge site starting ‘up to a year later’.

Earlier this year it was reported the scheme was now in line for Government funding worth about £30 million, which would help cover the costs of 16 inpatient beds and an urgent treatment centre, among other facilities.