A state-of-the-art fracture clinic, costing nearly £1 million, could be built at East Surrey Hospital, if the borough's planning committee gives the go-ahead.

The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has applied for planning permission to build the clinic as part of the Trust's bid to improve facilities.

If given approval, the new building would be next to the outpatients' clinic at the West Entrance of the hospital.

It would be funded with the £993,000 which has been awarded from the Government's "Action on Orthopaedics" initiative.

The fracture clinic will be larger, contain extra clinic spaces and have an area for pre-assessment.

There are also plans to recruit junior doctors, so more staff will be on hand to treat patients. Multi-purpose rooms, suitable for other specialities, such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, will be built into the facility.

The Trust says that the new clinic aims to provide a "one-stop shop" for patients who need to see an orthopaedics specialist.

The Trust also says that waiting times will be reduced and the environment will be improved.

The space freed up by relocating and improving the fracture clinic will be used to enlarge the area.

It will also be used to enhance the service provided by the accident and emergency department, and will include a new admissions unit.

The proposed development is for a single storey extension within a courtyard area to

provide the fracture clinic.

The planning application is expected to be considered by councillors on Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's planning committee within the next few weeks.