THE county's MPs have welcomed a plan to invest more than £5 million in a new IT project for hospitals across Worcestershire.

The extra funding, confirmed by Health Secretary Matthew Hancock, means the hospital trust can now move ahead with plans to make urgent improvements to its clinical IT systems.

Worcester MP Robin Walker, who visited Worcestershire Royal Hospital with the Health Secretary last month, said: "I am happy to see more funding coming from the government to support Worcestershire services, all of which is making a considerable difference across the county’s hospitals.

“I continue to be persistent in pushing for more investment in Worcester, so that my constituents can access timely, first-class care unhindered by long waiting times and financial pressures.

"I want the excellent staff at our hospitals to have access to the facilities and technology they require to look after the people of Worcester as best as they can, and I thank the Secretary of State for providing this funding in acknowledgement of the hard work he witnessed during his visit in March.”

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin also welcomed the news after lobbying the Department for Health for the extra cash.

She said: “I am delighted this project has been approved and last week I was contacted by the Health Secretary confirming this news and thanking me and my colleagues for flagging this project to him.

“The trust has a challenging task dealing both with the extra demand issues but also working with the NHS to come out of special measures.

“This investment is yet more proof that the government’s Long Term Plan for the NHS is fully committed to creating the right conditions to allow the trust to improve and deliver the best possible care for us and our loved ones."