Dialysis treatment for those with kidney issues will be provided from a purpose-built premises in Bowthorpe when it is moved out of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

The move was revealed in this newspaper earlier this month, when hospital chief executive Mark Davies said dialysis would be relocated off site to make room for more beds.

It followed a tough winter for the NHS which saw all Norfolk's hospitals full at many points.

But Mr Davies said at the time he did not yet know where services would be provided from.

But it can now be revealed patients will be sent to Francis Way, Bowthorpe, for the treatment by the end of the year.

The hospital said it was working with a national specialist provider of renal dialysis to set up the expanded service but that staff would continue to be employed by NNUH.

Chris Cobb, director of operations (medicine), said: 'With a growing older population we have outgrown the current Jack Pryor Unit and need to increase our capacity to treat patients.

'Across the country, most renal dialysis services are now delivered in a community setting. In fact, we are one of the few trusts still running this service in a hospital setting.

'We are creating a new super-centre for renal dialysis in Norwich which will be one of the largest centres in the UK. Patients will no longer need to attend hospital every week, but instead can attend a purpose built specialist facility with state-of-the-art facilities and plenty of parking.

'Patients will continue to receive care from the same group of clinicians, nurses and healthcare assistants as they do currently.'

The change gives way for around 32 escalation beds to open at NNUH to help cope during busy periods.

And the new unit will also be able to offer dialysis for patients on holiday in Norfolk which has not previously been available because of a lack of capacity.

The Langley Ward at NNUH will still provide dialysis for patients too unwell to be treated in the community.

The renal dialysis unit at Cromer and District Hospital will remain on its current site with plans to update and expand the Cromer unit with four extra dialysis stations.