PLANS to downgrade the QE2 Hospital and move major services to Stevenage have taken another step forward. For a state-of-the-art multi-million pound surgicentre at the Lister Hospital has today (Tuesday) been given the official green light. Contracts have

PLANS to downgrade the QE2 Hospital and move major services to Stevenage have taken another step forward.

For a state-of-the-art multi-million pound surgicentre at the Lister Hospital has today (Tuesday) been given the official green light.

Contracts have been signed with Clinicenta, the NHS' independent sector partner.

Construction work will begin on the site of the recently-demolished old postgraduate medical centre, by Coreys Mill Lane, within days.

The new facility is expected to open in April 2011 - when day surgery, some short stay operations and ophthalmology services will transfer up the road from WGC.

A&E and emergency surgery facilities will remain at the QE2 until its planned closure, set for the autumn of 2011.

Nick Carver, chief executive of the East and North Herts NHS Trust, said: "Patients are always the driving force behind any decisions we make and the development of the new surgicentre is excellent news for them.

"By helping us to separate planned and emergency surgery, this exciting new facility should mean our patients experience much shorter waiting times and fewer cancelled operations."

He said: "We now will be working closely with our independent sector partner, Clinicenta, to ensure the new facility opens on time.

"Much work still lies ahead, but we are confident that between us we can show real benefits for patients from the NHS working closely with the expertise that the independent sector has to offer."

Clinicenta managing director David Highton welcomed the partnership.

"This is a real example of the NHS and the independent sector working together for the benefit of the local community," he said.