Once open the 27,000 square metre, four-storey expansion will include a ground floor acute medical floor and improved front entrance, with women, children's and purpose-built critical care services provided on other floors.

Jo Williams, chief executive at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: ‘This multi-million pound investment as part of our Hospitals Transformation Programme is a once in a generation investment to improve care for everyone through modern, purpose-built facilities and ensure more people get the care they need at the right time.

‘We are making fantastic progress as we get closer to the 2028 opening. We will continue to engage and work closely with our local communities, patients and colleagues every step of this journey to improve the experience for all our communities.'

The expansion will see specialist ED support teams based at RSH from 2028 in order to offer quicker decisions about patient care and a reduction in time patients stay in hospital.

The whole structure, which is being delivered by VINCI Building as part of the Integrated Health Projects joint venture, is due to be finished by the end of 2026.