CHORLEY and South Ribble District General Hospital could be in line for a massive cash injection following a statement by Health Secretary Frank Dobson.

Mr Dobson, who visited the hospital recently, announced that all accident and emergency departments that need it, including up to 27 hospitals in the North West, are to be modernised at a cost of £70-£80 million.

And the hospital is on the list, although it is unclear the extend of the funding Chorley will receive.

Dennis Benson, chief executive of Chorley and South Ribble NHS trust, said: "We haven't heard anything yet, but after the excellent write up and comments we received from Mr Dobson after his visit we are very optimistic.

"If we are fortunate enough to get funding we will be looking to a number of different projects, all of which aim to take the technology that we already have to the next stage. It's all very exciting."

The money, from extra funding for the NHS announced in last week's budget, will be the biggest programme of investment in accident and emergency services in the history of the NHS, aiming to reduce trolley waits, introduce admission wards and employ emergency nurses.

A further £20-£30 million will be invested in primary care, to improve patient access to NHS services, including pilot schemes for walk-in services.

Mr Dobson said: "We had already announced investment of £30 million for next year to modernise a quarter of A & E departments in England.

"Now, with additional resources for the NHS on top of the £17 billion agreed by the Chancellor for the next three years, we can truly carry out sweeping reform of A & E departments."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.