PLANS for a children's hospital for the Scottish capital are taking shape with the building blueprint now lodged with planners and work due to begin by the end of the year.

The major development will create a new home for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children as well as child and adolescent mental health service and the neurosciences department in a car park next to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France.

Susan Goldsmith, finance director of NHS Lothian, said:"This development is vital in creating a major trauma centre, reducing the need for emergency transfers between hospitals and bringing age appropriate and modern settings for patients, visitors and staff onto one site."

The Edinburgh project is part of a £750m health service revamp.