A NORTH Yorkshire hospital is to get an £18 million upgrade.

Friarage Hospital in Northallerton will undergo an intensive three-year redevelopment, beginning in the autumn, with run-down 1940s buildings replaced by new buildings more suited to modern patient care.

The scheme will include:

A new children's ward and outpatients department

A new women's health unit which includes inpatients and outpatients facilities

Refurbished maternity unit

New pathology laboratory

New kitchens and staff dining areas

A new pharmacy

A new energy centre

Upgrade of the hospital main entrance

Improved visitor and patient parking.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust worked closely with the trust board and management group of the former Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust, Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), and staff and patients in the hospital, to initiate the project.

The Friends of the Friarage fundraising efforts gave the initial impetus by raising £700,000 to rebuild the children's unit.

Clinical staff, architects and planners from the trust have now produced a scheme which will see a high-quality patient-centred environment offering welcoming, accessible accommodation for patients and staff alike.

Another scheme to increase endoscopy rooms in the day unit has also been given the go-ahead.

Paediatrician Dr Jon James said: "It is great news for the Friarage that the development is finally going ahead.

"The new purpose-built facilities will allow us to provide the highest standard of care and comfort for our patients in a modern and welcoming environment."

Updated: 10:56 Wednesday, July 30, 2003