MINISTER of State for Health John Hutton gave Blackpool's latest hospital developments a healthy thumbs up last week.

Mr Hutton visited the resort to officially open and tour the new £30 million Phase V development at Victoria Hospital and Bispham Hospital.

The minister was greeted by the local MPs -- Joan Humble, Michael Jack and Gordon Marsden -- who were delighted to show off the resort's new multi-million pound hospital facilities and get his views on the progress that has been made.

And the minister said: "The NHS in the North West is benefiting and will continue to benefit from investment in facilities and extra front-line staff. This will bring about improvements to the quality of care to patients and will reduce waiting times for treatment. The public want to see extra investment and this is happening."

"For too long, patients and staff have had to put up with sub-standard facilities, in some cases in hospitals built in the Victorian era. This is unacceptable.

"Staff deserve to have working conditions in keeping with their skills. Likewise, patients have the right to expect treatment in a comfortable, modern, safe and infection-free environment.

"That is what they are receiving in the Phase V development at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. It is what we are determined will be the norm across the NHS as we continue to invest in services, facilities and staff to ensure that patients have access to high quality care and treatment whenever they need it."

MP for Blackpool South, Gordon Marsden, said of Mr Hutton's visit: "He looked around all the new units and got a good and honest picture from talking to the people 'on the ground' and members of staff.

"Myself and the other MPs brought up the question of the need for an extra scanner for the hospital and he listened and also spoke of the new cardiac centre in the future."

Mr Hutton began his tour at Bispham Hospital in Ryscar Way, off Kincraig Road -- one of three new £3 million elderly rehabilitation units in the Fylde. He met staff and patients before unveiling a plaque to commemorate its opening.

Miss Beverley Lester, chairman of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust, said: "We have been a real trailblazer with this initiative, one of the first trusts in the country to commit ourselves to a private finance initiative. We believe that by providing up-to-date rehabilitation in modern comfortable surroundings, older people will be given the maximum opportunity to return to their own homes and retain their independence for as long as possible."

Mr Hutton then moved on to tour Victoria Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department, Medical Admissions Unit and a medical ward before declaring the unit officially open.

The chairman of Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, Barry Fothergill, said: "This is a culmination of all the tremendous hard work and planning that has gone into this major development.

"There is no doubt that the staff and patients appreciate the new facilities and have seen a considerable difference from the old annexe wards that have been replaced."