HEALTH chiefs have unveiled plans for virtually a complete rebuild of Crewe's Leighton Hospital.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (MCHT), wants to develop a long term vision for the future which includes an ambitious plan for a major redevelopment of the current hospital site, which was opened in 1972.

The proposals it says will deliver a state of the art, technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable facility offering exceptional, modern healthcare.

The site will be reconfigured and about eighty five percent of the existing buildings are to be rebuilt. The redevelopment would happen over a number of phases to make sure existing services are not disrupted.

The Trust is working with a strategic partner to develop the proposal in more detail in order to have a full outline of the plans by the end of February next year.

MCHT Chief Executive James Sumner, said: "This will be a hugely important project to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the local area.

"Our ambitious plan will deliver a hospital that is fit for purpose for the future and designed around the needs of our patients, their families and our staff.

"We have a clear strategic vision for the future of Leighton Hospital and we are now working up the detailed costings - achieving our vision is dependent on securing appropriate funding.

"As our plans progress we will very much want to hear from everyone who has an interest in the hospital, to ensure that our plans consider their ideas and aspirations."

Hospital chiefs have decided against spending "considerable money" bringing Leighton's current outdated site up to an acceptable standard.

The trust says it will need to transform the care that it has traditionally provided, to meet the future needs of the population which is getting larger, growing older and has increasing needs.

It says Leighton requires significant renovation and not suitable for delivering modern healthcare services due to its size, layout and the extensive repair programme that would be needed.

The trust says redevelopment provides a unique opportunity to create a facility that can deliver a new clinical model – a blueprint for providing future healthcare both in and out of hospital.

Work is also continuing with partners on plans to transform Victoria Infirmary in Northwich into a state of the art healthcare complex.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan has been working to gain funding for Leighton and he says he will press for support for the plans when he meets with the Prime Minister this week.

Earlier this month the MP launched a petition to secure Leighton's place as one of the final eight new hospital build sites in the recently announced final round of a £3.7 billion hospital building programme.

He said: "Leighton Hospital was built in the 1970s and was never planned to still be in use today. It has benefited from a number of big investments in new theatres and other facilities - £15 million will be put into A&E this year and next year.

"But the reality is, add on blocks and new facilities can only take you so far. Leighton needs a fundamental rebuild and this funding opportunity is a unique one we need to grab with both hands. It is great that the public can now get a better understanding of what this would look like by looking at these proposals."

The petition can be found here.