PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a £27 million extension to the Great Western Hospital.

Last night's decision clears the way for the Diagnostic Treatment Centre to open in spring 2005.

It will result in a 20 per cent increase in capacity at the Great Western Hospital which has faced criticism that it is not big enough.

The additional 118 beds will help an extra 6,000 cases patients a year get treatment.

The new centre will be built next to the Commonhead roundabout on land bordering the A419 and Marlborough Road.

The five-storey unit will have five operating theatres and concentrate on routine, short stay surgery, allowing the main hospital to deal with more specialist and emergency cases. There are already 10 such centres nationwide and a further 19 are planned.

Diagnostic treatment centres are intended to provide quick, pre-booked surgery and tests for patients by separating planned, routine operations from unplanned or emergency treatment.

Patients of the centre will be able to choose the time and date of their initial appointment, usually within six weeks of referral.

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust Chief Executive Lyn Hill-Tout said: "We are very pleased to get planning permission and we will work with the borough on the outstanding issues."

Concerns have been raised that the new facility has insufficient parking and that the site infringes on a proposed park and ride bus scheme.

An additional 250 car parking spaces will be created by the project.

The centre is being paid for mainly by the Private Finance Initiative.

This means that the building will be constructed and serviced by a private contractor and then leased back to the NHS Trust.