THE Welsh Government has earmarked £36 million for Gwent's Specialist and Critical Care Centre (SCCC) project in 2016/17, though a final decision is still awaited from Cardiff Bay on the business case.

The money is included in the Welsh Government's capital budget for the forthcoming financial year, subject to the business case being approved.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is hoping a decision will be forthcoming in the next few weeks, so it can proceed to the stage of beginning to build the £300m hospital, at the site of the former Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital, near Cwmbran.

The earlier the decision, the more likely the building phase will be completed in time to open the hospital in the summer of 2019.

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle welcomed the inclusion of the £36m in the Welsh Government’s capital budget, which is the largest single investment in the capital programme for 2016/17.

Ms Neagle is a keen supporter of the SCCC project, and said: “I’m delighted that the funding has been clearly earmarked in the budget for the purpose-built SCCC.

" As the largest single capital investment allocated for next year, it’s very good news indeed for my constituents in Torfaen, and the wider population in South East Wales.

“The health board has worked with the Welsh Government to get to where we are, and I welcome the progress made to date towards the shared ambition of delivering brand new hospital services serving the Valleys.”

Ms Neagle vowed to continue to liaise with the health board and the Welsh Government, "to ensure that these plans remain as robust as possible going forward”.

The SCCC was first proposed more than a decade ago, as the centrepiece of the Clinical futures programme to modernise health services across Gwent.

Purpose-built to provide for those patients requiring complex specialist or critical care, it will have around 470 beds and will serve a population of more than 600,000 in Gwent and into south Powys.

"It will include a 24-hour assessment unit, dealing with all major emergencies and resuscitation cases, intensive care facilities, comprehensive diagnostic services, theatres and a consultant-led obstetric unit.

There will also be a dedicated paediatric assessment unit, and a neonatal intensive care unit.

Support services will include pathology, pharmacy, and radiology, including MRI and CT scanners.

The hospital will also be equipped with a helipad for flying in emergency cases.