A STATE-OF-THE-ART �47m surgicentre at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage 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 t

A STATE-OF-THE-ART �47m surgicentre at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage 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 within days.

The new facility is expected to open in April 2011 and will facilitate planned day case surgery, some short stay operations, and outpatient and ophthalmology services.

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.