Plans for new diagnostics centres at Norfolk's three main hospitals are set to be given the green light in a major £86m investment.

The Department for Health and Social Care is set to rubberstamp major plans to build the new units at each of Norfolk's acute hospitals.

Plans for the schemes were unveiled last year as part of efforts to ease pressures on the three sites by reducing the number of patients needing to use the main hospital wards.

Eastern Daily Press: How a new diagnostics centre in King's Lynn will look. Picture: LSI ArchitectsHow a new diagnostics centre in King's Lynn will look. Picture: LSI Architects (Image: LSI Architects)

The units are intended to speed up the diagnosis of diseases and reduce hospital waiting lists.

Now, with ministers poised to agree just under £86m in funding, centres will be built at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the James Paget in Gorleston and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn.

It is hoped that each centre will be able to welcome their first patients within the next two years.

Eastern Daily Press: North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker. Picture: Stuart AndersonNorth Norfolk MP Duncan Baker. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

Duncan Baker, MP for North Norfolk, said: "This is fantastic news for the whole of Norfolk.

"I think the centres will make an enormous difference to the region as a whole and I welcome such a significant investment in local healthcare.

"The level of work that will be able to be done at the centres will help reduce the flow of patients into the main hospital buildings and help get people the care and treatment they need much quicker. It is fantastic news."

Eastern Daily Press: North Norwich MP Chloe SmithNorth Norwich MP Chloe Smith (Image: Archant)

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich Norfolk, also welcomed the news.

She said: "This new facility will increase the amount of medical imaging that can take place locally.

"Early diagnostics is key to a greater chance of a better outcome if there is something wrong."

Simon Hackwell, director of strategy and major projects at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest significantly in modern scanning equipment which is essential to so many of the patients under our care.

"By delivering a countywide programme of this size it will allow the NHS to transform scanning services across Norfolk and Waveney.

"The result of which will help us see patients more quickly, meaning faster diagnosis and therefore faster treatment and improved outcomes.”

It comes just over a month after it was announced that funding had finally been agreed to rebuild the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn.