A Mid Sussex hospital is to get a new £1.2 million operating theatre.

The new theatre will be linked to the existing seven theatres and recovery unit at the Queen Victoria in East Grinstead, home to one of the South East's leading burns treatment centres.

The Government is giving the hospital almost £1 million for the theatre.

An extra £300,000 has been allocated under its Action On Orthopaedics initiative.

Stuart Mathieson, director of development at the hospital, said: "We are extremely pleased to have successfully bid for the money for the theatre, which will enable us to treat more patients and reduce waiting times."

The Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust hopes to have the theatre running by February 2003. It is taking on an 11th plastic surgeon in January.

The development comes soon after completion of a £3 million redevelopment and refurbishment of Canadian Wing to provide up-to-date facilities for patients.

Work is also due to begin on upgrading and refurbishing wards in the trust's community hospital.