FINAL plans for East Lothian’s new £72 million community hospital are with East Lothian Council.

NHS Lothian’s proposals were submitted to the local authority yesterday (Wednesday) and come on the back of several years of planning for the new hospital, which will be built at Roodlands, in Haddington.

If the scheme gets the go-ahead, construction on the site is expected to begin late next year. Patients could then begin to use the new hospital as early as late 2017.

David Small, chief officer, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important stage in the process of developing the new hospital.

“These are exciting plans which will see a modern and purpose-built hospital developed, helping improve the quality of care for people in East Lothian.

“Staff have formed a key role in the design layout of the new building, and have influenced the outcome of the proposed plans of their departments and location within the building.

“We have also engaged extensively with over 300 local people, including neighbours close to the Roodlands site, and valued their comments.”

The hospital would see some services return to the county and bring an almost 60 per cent increase in inpatient beds to the county. Orthopaedic rehabilitation, continuing care and some mental health services would return for in-patients, while returning out-patient services will be ironed out during the ongoing business case.

The outline business case for the project, which is expected to be submitted to the Scottish Government for approval early in the New Year, is being devised in tandem with the planning submission and sets out exact costs, hospital services and timescales. Like the current Roodlands, there will be no accident and emergency (A&E) department.

The latest announcement was welcomed by the county’s MSP, Iain Gray, and Councillor Donald Grant, council spokesman for health and social care.

Mr Gray said: “Communities in East Lothian have already seen their new hospital delayed by 10 years so it’s very encouraging to see these plans submitted.

“I’m also pleased that NHS Lothian has confirmed that some services will return to the county and that there will be a significant increase in the number of inpatient beds available locally.

“The project’s outline business case will still not go to the Scottish Government until next year. With its capital funding model still up in the air, we need to hear from Ministers that they will expedite the application without any further delay.”

Mr Grant added: “People in East Lothian have been asking for a facility like this for a long time and I am glad that we are now looking forward to it becoming a reality in the near future.

“It will certainly help us to deliver the key aim of the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership which is to deliver best health, best care and best value across our communities.”

NHS Lothian have been working with development partner Hub South East Scotland Ltd throughout the process.