HEALTH secretary Alan Milburn praised doctors for drastically slashing waiting times at the Royal Bolton Hospital -- but admitted there were still problems which could only be solved by spending money.

The Secretary of State for Health was in town on a whistle-stop tour of the hospital's £1 million eye unit which has seen waiting times for cataract patients cut from more than a year to just eight weeks.

He praised doctors for increasing the number of operations from 1,000 to more than 2,500 since the second theatre was opened less than two years ago.

"There has been real progress in Bolton," he said. "Waiting times are down and more people are being seen. It's the vanguard of what is happening nationally."

He added: "Although the NHS is the fastest growing industry in Britain, there is still a lot of catching up to do. There are still problems and there will be investment."

The eye unit opened in 1994. It has six consultants and 123 staff.

Mr Milburn was looking at the progress the unit has made in dealing with cataracts and the impact the second theatre has had.

Flanked by Bolton MPs David Crausby and Dr Brian Iddon, he spoke to leading doctors including consultant opthalmologist Jeff Kwartz.

Dr Kwartz showed Mr Milburn an eye operation in progress. He told the minister: "The money we received to invest in the unit has boosted the work we are able to do."

Dr Iddon said later: "I'm delighted that the Secretary of State is pleased by what he has seen. He was asked to come here to see how money is being well spent."