US-based non-profit healthcare system Wellstar Health System has announced its intention to build a 230-bed hospital in Georgia, US, after filing a letter of intent with the Georgia Department of Community Health.

The proposed facility would be situated on Cobb Parkway in Acworth, opposite the Wellstar Acworth Health Park.

It is designed to deliver integrated, coordinated and efficient care for patients in the Acworth area, where demand for healthcare services is rising.

Wellstar Health System president and CEO Candice Saunders said: “Wellstar is improving access to care, and this new hospital is the latest in a series of projects that do just that.

“The area is growing so much that even when our new tower at Wellstar Kennestone opens next year, the region will need more hospital beds.

“A new hospital in Acworth would fill a crucial need for the region’s medical care.”

The project will be backed by resources from Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center, and other care locations.

Wellstar plans to submit a comprehensive Certificate of Need application by 23 June, which will detail the project's architectural plans and how it will address the community's health and wellness needs.

Acworth mayor Tommy Allegood said: “The City of Acworth has been expanding our critical infrastructure and creating a place where families will want to stay for generations.

“A hospital would be extremely beneficial to our community, and we appreciate Wellstar’s willingness to meet our needs.”

Wellstar has so far invested more than $1.4bn in healthcare infrastructure across a variety of projects.

These include the expansion of Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Paulding, the establishment of an oncology centre at Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, and the development of a hospital in Columbia County.

Wellstar is also working with the Augusta University Medical College of Georgia Center for Digital Health to extend speciality care to rural hospitals.