Huntsville Hospital Health System has submitted a letter of intent (LoI) to the US state of Alabama, seeking approval to realise its plans to expand emergency services.

The proposed expansion includes the construction of two new free-standing emergency departments (FEDs) in north Huntsville and Hampton Cove.

It also encompasses the enlargement of the existing emergency department at Madison Hospital, increasing beds by six and capacity by 25%.

Huntsville Hospital Health System president and CEO Jeff Samz said: “No area of the state is growing more rapidly than the Huntsville community. Our hospital system has been the backbone of healthcare here for 130 years. We’re committed to doing whatever it takes to address current needs and to prepare for even more growth in the future.”

A formal application for a certificate of need is set to follow the LoI later this year.

Huntsville Hospital Health System aims to expedite these projects once approved, with plans to complete the design phase this winter and commence development of the FEDs in the spring of 2026.

The expansion at Madison Hospital is already in progress.

Each new FED is projected to require an investment of $30m for construction and equipment. However, specific locations for the proposed FEDs have not been disclosed.

Samz added: “All of us know the growth challenges that our community is facing. We are taking definitive steps to increase access to emergency care in every part of our community.

“The healthcare investment that we will make in North Huntsville will be the largest ever made there. It will be historic. We look forward to receiving approval, so we can get started.”

This announcement follows earlier news this year when Huntsville Hospital Health System announced plans to expand its partnership with Oracle Health, aiming to boost operational efficiency, foster innovation, and enhance patient care across its network.