Patients to get £27m care boost

Front line patient services in Leicester are to be given a £27m boost, health bosses have confirmed.

Leicester City Primary Care Trust said it has turned around a £43m defecit from 2006 to find £27m for new and upgraded services in the city.

Spokeswoman Jo Yeaman said everyone had "worked really hard" to find the money for the new projects.

Stroke services, diabetic care and GP practices are all to be improved as part of the plans.

'Big difference'

"We've still got a long way to go but the position we're in now financially means we can really start making a really big difference to the people of Leicester," said Ms Yeaman.

"We know we need better access for patients, so we are bringing in a lot of new initiatives including three new GP practices, upgrading existing practices and investing in new buildings that GPs can look to move in to."

A new urgent care centre is due to open at the Leicester Royal Infirmary next month, with the intention of cutting times people have to wait for Accident and Emergency.

Plans for a £711m redevelopment on three sites in Leicester were scrapped in 2007 after a review showed costs would increase to an unaffordable £921m.