The South West Health Authority has given its approval to the �36m extension at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Construction is due to start this summer on a scheme which should see nearly double the number of cardiac operations taking place in a year.

The project will now go to the Department of Health for formal approval, but construction work should start this summer.

It is an important part of our plans to improve access and reduce waiting times for heart patients in Devon and Cornwall Murray Cochrane, South West Health Authority strategy co-ordinator

The South West Cardiothoracic Centre opened at Derriford in 1997.

But it is working to full capacity and cannot meet demand.

The extension should see the number of heart operations rise from about 1,100 per year to 1,850 per year.

South West Health Authority strategy co-ordinator Murray Cochrane said: "This is an exciting scheme.

Good reputation

"It is an important part of our plans to improve access and reduce waiting times for heart patients in Devon and Cornwall.

"The South West Centre has developed a very good reputation and we are hopeful that, given Department of Health approval, we will be able to build on this success."

The expansion will include increased cardiac critical care facilities where patients are looked after immediately following their operations.

There will also be an extension to operating theatres and additional ward accommodation.