New England based company Richard Crookes is carrying out the $60 million upgrade.

Construction for the hospital redevelopment commenced with an official sod turning at the beginning of November and it is expected to take 80 weeks to complete.

Hunter New England Health Executive Director, Rural and Regional Health Service, Susan Heyman, said the redevelopment would help to bring Armidale in line with larger centres by encouraging a high standard of health care through a wider range of services.

“I think that everyone is really excited about the redevelopment and they should be,” Ms Heyman said.

“They will have a state-of-the-art facility where they can provide efficient care based on new models of care.

“There’s a continuity of care that Armidale provides and that is part of a larger network of services.”