The region's largest hospital has received a cash boost from the government as it attempts to establish a new wing to help tackle growing waiting lists.
A new £11m orthopaedic centre at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N) was granted planning permission in February 2022.
The project will consist of two new theatres and a 21-bed ward, providing the trust with a standalone elective surgical unit.
And the development has now received a further boost, with the N&N securing further government funding for a second phase, which will provide enhanced facilities and increase capacity.
The news comes as the hospital faces "one of the longest waiting lists for elective surgery" and health bosses attempt to "relieve the backlog created by the Covid-19 pandemic."
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Planning documents submitted to South Norfolk Council claim: "The NaNOC [orthopaedic centre] 2 will provide additional facilities to support the existing NaNOC for both day case knee surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery.
"As well as more complex inpatient care for joint replacements including hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle."
Phase one of the project was supposed to be completed a year ago and admit its first patients shortly afterwards.
Hospital bosses had hoped that it would help reduce the number of people waiting for orthopaedic surgery, which currently stands at more than 9,400.
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But the centre has been held up by "contractual issues" over costs with contractors PFI firm Octagon.
Officials now say it will not open until next year.
The initial cost of the project was £11.4m but it is now set to soar due to the delays, although hospital bosses remain tight-lipped by how much it will rise.
N&N director of strategy and major projects, Simon Hackwell, said: "Building work on the Orthopaedic Centre continues with a plan for the first patients to be treated early next year.
"Due to national investment, specifically for addressing elective surgery waiting lists, we are able to put plans in place to build a second unit, which will double our capacity and go a long way in helping us reduce our patient waiting lists."
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