PATIENTS will benefit from around 100 new specialist registrars starting work in East Lancs.

The announcement has been welcomed by health bosses who say there is a desperate shortage of consultants.

And it is now hoped the specialist registrars - qualified doctors who assist consultants as part of their final training to specialise in a particular area - will stay in the area once they have qualified.

Pearse Butler, Chief Executive of the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority, said: "Doctors often settle where they train. Once they have the opportunity to live in Cumbria and Lancashire, they begin to appreciate the benefits of the area, not just its scenic beauty and the friendliness of local people, but also the quality of care in our hospitals, which provide an excellent working environment."

Across Cumbria and Lancashire there will be 180 new specialist registrars which will double the existing number.

But local acute trusts have now convinced the Royal Colleges that the quality of training they provide would be in line with national academic and clinical standards.

Val Michej, acting director of Workforce Directorate, the body within the Strategic Health Authority responsible for staff development, said: "It will take us around a year to fill all the vacancies, then these new posts will be a permanent addition to the workforce."

Thirty per cent of pay for the new posts will be funded nationally but 70 per cent will have to be found by local trusts.