Plans for a new emergency care hospital off the A19 have been tentatively backed by NHS North of Tyne.
The board said it would consider approving the development once a number of matters which still need looking at are resolved.
It also gave the go-ahead for plans to upgrade North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals and to rebuild community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs general and community hospitals across Northumberland and North Tyneside, came up with the package of proposals.
Chris Reed, chief executive of NHS North of Tyne, said: “We have now considered comments made by local people and key local groups alongside other issues such as the clinical benefits that would result for patients.
“Taking all of this into account, we have given a cautious welcome to the development of a new emergency care hospital.
“On balance, the consultation has shown support for this development with the majority of people recognising the benefits for patients as a result of seeing the right specialist at a very early stage.”
