FUNDS to rebuild Stanmore's ageing Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital have been guaranteed by the coalition government.

More than half the buildings at the hospital in Brockley Hill - which treats muscular-skeletal injuries - are over 60 years old and the main ward is made up of Second World War prefabricated huts originally supposed to last just 15 years.

Before the general election, the former health secretary, Andy Burnham, confirmed the Department of Health would provide £81m for the redevelopment, seemingly ending four decades of uncertainty over its future.

However, the funding was thrown back into doubt when the Conservative-Lib Dem administration decided to review all spending commitments made by the previous Labour government since the turn of the year.

But Simon Burns, minister for health, wrote to the hospital trust on Thursday to confirm the cash was safe.

Trust chief executive Rob Hurd said: "I am delighted that we have a clear way forward for our rebuild so that we can continue to provide high quality, best value care for our patients."

Harrow East's Conservative MP Bob Blackman said: "All staff at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) do a brilliant job in dreadful conditions.

"I committed during the election campaign to ensuring that the rebuilding project would proceed. I raised the issue during my maiden speech in the House of Commons and am delighted that the representations I have made to the Treasury have been successful.

"I look forward to the completion of this much-needed project."

In June, the trust won an extension to planning permission granted three years ago to tear down part of the current building and create a new hospital block, with land on the fringe of the 34-hectare Green Belt site being sold for housing to partially subsidise the redevelopment.

The rebuild will provide approximately 159 beds - 60 per cent of which will be single room compared to just 20 per cent currently - and a new imaging department.

A trust spokeswoman said: "We received a letter from Simon Burns MP on June 17 confirming that following the new government's re-examination of all spending approvals made since January 1, the RNOH can proceed with its plans to redevelop the hospital.

"The letter stated that the RNOH meets the government's criteria of being affordable, good value for money and consistent with its priori-ties."

The trust will look for a contractor in the summer so the build, taking two years, can begin in 2012.

REBUILD PLAN

* New 19,080sq ft four-storey hospital building

* Conversion of spinal injuries unit into admin offices

* New education centre and institute of orthopaedics

* Demolition and redevelopment of Eastgate House for housing

* Unspecified number of private homes

* New staff accommodation

* Aspire Centre to stay