The site of the new hospital block next to the Edith Watson Maternity Unit.

Work is under way on a One and Three-Quarter Million Pound scheme to make Burnley general Hospital into one of the largest and most modern in this part of the world. It is expected that the scheme will take three years to complete. It will include the provision of a new accident and emergency department, a new out-patient department and new X-ray and physiotherapy departments. All these new units should be ready for use sometime in 1976. The aim of the expansion is to create a major hospital for the Burnley, Nelson and Colne areas.

The work so far has been on clearing the site near to the Edith Watson Maternity Unity. This new block off Casterton Avenue will replace the casualty department at Burnley Victoria Hospital. Victoria is already overcrowded and unable to expand. Five X-ray rooms will be housed in the new building and the new physiotherapy department will include a hydrotherapy pool. Outpatient clinics which at present operate at both the General and Victoria will be centralised and improved.