An early Christmas present for Tauranga

The city's Grace Hospital's been confirmed for a multi-million dollar upgrade, including new medical facilities to meet the needs of the growing city.

Owners Evolution Healthcare and Southern Cross Healthcare confirm they'll expand the existing five-hectare site in Oropi -- with further details coming next year.

Hospital Board Chair, Simon Keating anticipates the work to be complete within the next 18-months to two-years.

He says the hospital's site is quite large, meaning there's a lot of opportunity to continue growing and developing the precinct.