HEALTH bosses today unveiled details of how patients at York District Hospital will benefit from a £7 million NHS investment in new services over the coming year.

And they revealed that under plans to redesign the main reception and entrance area - which won't cost the Health Service a penny five new shops, a caf and a cashpoint will be provided for patients, visitors and staff.

But patients were also warned of inevitable pain before the gain, with upheaval expected over the next few months before dramatic improvements to the hospital environment.

The Health Service investment includes:

*The purchase of a new £650,000 CT scanner.

*An £870,000 modernisation of the maternity unit.

*The investment of £680,000 in new and replacement medical and surgical equipment.

More than £1 million is also being spent on modernising electrical facilities, and £200,000 on laboratory cytology services.

As reported previously in the Evening Press, a new clinical building for opthalmology, diabetes and endocrine services is to be built at the back of the hospital, with work due to start later this month. And another £950,000 is being spent on new Ear, Nose and Throat facilities.

The trust's director of facilities, Danny Morgan, said the developments would provide vastly improved facilities for patients and visitors.

A lot of hard time had gone into planning the developments, he said. "This is a very exciting time for the Trust."

But he warned: "We will be undergoing some upheaval within the hospital during the new few months.

"But modern medicine requires modern facilities, and this work is a major step forward in our commitment to provide a high quality environment and high quality facilities for our patients."

He said the six new shops would include a florist, newsagent, general provisions store and a caf, and there would also be a cashpoint ATM.

Under a commercial partnership deal signed with BHE, the re-design of the reception area which is due to start next month would cost the NHS nothing. And the Trust would also receive a proportion of the rent from the shops each year.

Updated: 08:42 Friday, March 08, 2002