MULTI-million pound plans to transform a Southampton rehab have been given the green light.

Patients in the city are set to benefit from a state-of-the-art 50-bed rehabilitation unit at the Western Community Hospital in Millbrook.

The building work is set to cost around £21m and work is expected to start in the coming weeks after Solent NHS Trust was given government approval.

The unit will relocate two existing rehabilitation wards currently at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton – increasing beds from 43 to 50, as well as doubling the number of single rooms with en-suite facilities.

READ MORE: Plans for new rehabilitation unit in Southampton

Andrew Strevens, chief executive at Solent NHS Trust, said: “At Solent, we are committed to ensuring our patients have easy access to safe, effective and high-quality care.

“This development will bring together our inpatient facilities within Southampton, enabling significantly better care in fit for purpose premises.

"I am delighted that this investment in the population we serve has been achieved, and is a testament to the fantastic work of Solent and our partners in Southampton.”

Southampton City Council approved the plan in August 2021, and the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England approved funding in September 2022.

READ MORE: Work gets underway on "oasis of tranquillity" for NHS staff in hospital grounds

Mark Young, associate director of estates transformation at Solent NHS Trust, said: “This is brilliant news for our patients, staff and indeed everyone living in the Southampton area.

“So many people have worked so hard behind the scenes to turn this project into reality. Now we are really excited to see the building work start and the new wing start to take shape.”

Clinical staff, patients and carers have had input into the plans, that use greenery and natural light which have been shown to aid recovery.

Building work is expected to take around 18 months before the new unit is ready to receive its first patients.

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