CHORLEY Hospital received a real boost this week with news that it is to get a new £1.6m medical ward.

The ward -- providing an additional 30 beds -- will be staffed by 28 full-time nurses plus support staff.

It will be built next year adjacent to Rookwood ward and help reduce patient bed pressures.

The announcement was made by Dennis Benson, chairman of Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust, at its annual general meeting.

Jeff Moore, chief executive of the trust, said: "We have made an excellent case to the NHS Executive that the pressure faced by our staff in managing the dramatic increase in medial admissions required significant investment."

There will now be a total of 132 beds available for acute medicine.

The trust says it will mean a significant reduction in the number of patients who have to 'sleep out' in other wards, and ensure they get a bed much quicker during peak times. Mr Moore added: "This is excellent news and will represent a real improvement in the quality of service provision for the residents of Chorley and South Ribble."

And news of the development ward has been warmly welcomed by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle.

He said: "Obviously I am delighted that my call for an extra medical ward has been responded to so quickly by the NHS executive and this is fantastic news for Chorley and the extension of the service that can now be provided for local people."

He added: "I congratulate the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital Trust who obviously put a good business plan forward."

Construction is planed to start in February and be completed by December.