Stafford's County Hospital: £2.6 million revamp on way for A&E

Work at the site in Weston Road is expected to start in the next few months after health bosses agreed to the programme.

A meeting next week will discuss architects' plans which will address the design and layout of the department. It will remain open throughout the refurbishment.

However, it is feared the department, which controversially stopped providing an overnight service in December 2011, may be reduced to a minor injuries unit.

Hospital campaigner Karen Howell said: "Refurbishment could be good news but not if it is to the detriment of the service it provides.

"The public needs to attend this meeting to ensure the plans meet the needs of a fully reinstated A&E department, not merely a minor injuries unit."

The work is part of a £250m investment in hospital care announced by the Treasury 14 months ago, with £150m going to Stafford's County Hospital and £100m going to Stoke.

A 'virtual walk' through the proposed new A&E layout will be shown at next Thursday's meeting.

The plans have been given a cautious welcome by council chiefs.

Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said: "I obviously welcome any improvement to the service that will enhance patients' experience but I'd rather the money was spent on providing an overnight service which would reduce the pressure on New Cross Hospital's A&E.

"The old Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust had allowed the hospital to become rundown. It was falling apart, so the refurbishment has been necessary. But while it's fine to have a spanking new A&E area, it's no good if it's closed for 10 hours every night."

Councillor Muriel Davis, health chief on Cannock Chase Council, said: "A lot of Cannock people still use the County Hospital in Stafford so I welcome the news. There's no doubt it needs a refurbishment."

The Treasury money adds up to more than £300m when extra spending at the Royal Wolverhampton Trust, including a revamped A&E department at New Cross Hospital, is taken into account.

Andrew Ashcroft, spokesman for the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which now oversees the County and Stoke Royal hospitals, said: "This is part of the £250m investment into the new Trust, which sees £35m invested in the physical buildings at County Hospital. Next week's meeting is very much focused on getting feedback from the public on how the plans might improve patient experience."

As part of the investment, a £15m modernisation of two wards at County Hospital is expected to be completed this year, and an upgrade of a further three wards by 2017.

The meeting about the new A&E plans will take place at the Post Graduate Medical Centre, County Hospital, from noon to 2pm on January 14.