A £72m rebuild of Heatherwood Hospital is in the pipeline as the foundation trust running the site looks to improve healthcare services. 

Land at the London Road hospital in Ascot will be sold off to fund a demolition and rebuild of the ageing facility which is now controlled by the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. 

Frimley Park chief executive Andrew Morris confirmed the plans at a meeting of Slough Borough Council's health scrutiny panel on March 21 which also includes a proposal to build a £50m A&E department and £10m maternity unit at Wexham Park Hospital. 

The two hospitals merged with the Frimley Trust in October 2014 after both were placed in 'special measures' by the CQC in 2014 but have since been rated 'good'. 

Spokesperson for the trust, James Taylor, said there were few concrete details but that the public will be consulted with over the redevelopment of both sites.

He said: "We have always said a part of the land will be sold off there, otherwise it would not be possible [to build new facilities].

"We will be running a public engagement event in the next couple of months."

He confirmed plans were very much in the early stages of development. 

The future of Heatherwood Hospital has often seemed unclear after the decision was made to permanently close the birthing unit and the hospital's stroke rehabilitation ward in 2013. 

The decision to close the maternity unit was met with protests and a 3,300 signature petition against the closure while there was similar opposition at the decision to close the minor injuries unit in April 2014 and transfer all services to Bracknell's Urgent Care Centre at Brants Bridge. 

In total, the redevelopment of Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals will cost around £130m. 

The dates and times for the public consultation events are yet to be confirmed.