The South Holland Hospital, funded under a private finance initiative, is scheduled to open early in 2008 on Pinchbeck Road in Spalding.

Some people living near the proposed site have expressed concern over the proposals and claim the road will be unable to cope with a traffic increase.

The designs can be seen at the Welland Hospital in the town.

Traffic worries

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said any public concerns have been taken into account in the final design.

South Holland District Council has already twice turned down the plans because access on the Spalding Road was not considered safe, but work has been carried out to improve it.

Outline planning permission was granted in April. Hospital spokesman John Harness said: "We've gone through a four to five month process of going through all of everybody's requirements and taking into account planners requirements as well.

"I'm sure there will be questions that people raise.

"This isn't a completely finalised design. There is still a lot of tweaking to do and we will be taking on board people's concerns as we go through that consultation process."

The new hospital will have a minor injuries unit, community nursing services, physiotherapy, occupation therapy and X-ray along with community hospital beds for rehabilitation, short-term care and palliative care.