Building works are on schedule to be completed by the end of the month and the first advertisements have run for new nursing and allied health staff, Northern Tasmanian Health Organisation capital works director Grant Smith said yesterday.

John L. Grove is expected to be officially opened in its new guise as Northern Tasmania's only public rehabilitation facility in August, said LGH rehabilitation and sub acute services nursing director Lee Wallace.

Ms Wallace said that the 20-bed facility would potentially free up 20 beds at the LGH around the corner for acute care patients.

It will provide superior accommodation for long-term rehabilitation patients over 18, some of whom might have been in hospital for two years or more because there has not been anywhere suitable to release them.

"These will be places for people who are transitioning into the community whether that is back into their own homes or into residential care," Ms Wallace said.

These patients could be young disabled with spinal or head injuries or people who have had a stroke, who will get better, but are not ready to go home.

"They don't need acute hospital care any more, but are not yet ready to go home," Ms Wallace said.

She said that beds would also be available for direct access from the community by people with a chronic illness like multiple sclerosis or spinal injury who might need a time in hospital for a function review and treatment.

The new centre will include its own independent living unit with a kitchen so that patients can practise life skills needed to get them back into the community.

Ms Wallace said that the first of a series of advertisements had run looking for new staff for the centre, including 25 to 30 nurses, six new allied health professionals, a medical consultant and junior doctor, therapy assistants and catering and cleaning staff.