Construction of the new hub will enable the Northallerton hospital to more than double the number of planned operations it carries out each year.
The work beginning this week includes the removal of any contaminated ground under the site of the old Mowbray building which has been demolished to make way for the new state-of-the-art-facility for patients.
The construction of the new surgical hub will see the hospital’s six ageing operating theatres replaced with six new main operating theatres, two minor operating theatres and a surgical admission and day hub.
Kevin Oxley, director of facilities and estates at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This next phase of clearance work will see the removal of any contaminated soil under the old Mowbray building which was built more than 60 years ago.
“It will see specialist contractors removing a layer of soil under the old building which will then be taken away for safe disposal in preparation for the foundations to be laid for the new surgical hub which will benefit patients for decades to come.”