A £2.9 MILLION boost, which will provide at least 20 extra beds, has been revealed for York Hospital.

The cash package was announced by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, as part of a £2 billion national capital scheme for 2006-2007.

It means the hospital can provide 20 more beds for patients undergoing day surgery or treatments, who only need to stay for 23 hours or less. The money will also increase the number of beds in the critical care unit, to help reduce waiting times for operations.

Money will go towards improving facilities in the ward block, which is the oldest part of the building.

It will provide more modern toilets and bathrooms, so fewer patients need to share them, and offer better privacy and dignity.

York Hospitals NHS Trust is receiving the cash during the next financial year to help it continue its efforts to upgrade surgical facilities at the hospital.

Trust bosses hope the improvements will provide a more modern environment for patients and help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection, such as MRSA.

Chief executive Jim Easton said: "We welcome this additional money, which will help us to create a better hospital environment for our patients.

"A modern hospital is more efficient, easy to keep clean and provides our patients with the 21st century health care they expect and deserve.

"We will continue to strive towards creating this for all our patients and staff in all our wards and departments here in York Hospital."

Ms Hewitt, making the announcement yesterday, said: "We are making huge changes to the NHS, reforming the system, changing the way we work and providing more convenient care, closer to patients' homes.

"At the same time, it's important that we continue to provide the funding to modernise NHS buildings and equipment, for the benefit of patients in the long-term as well as the short-term.

"investment in the NHS estate is investment in the future of the NHS."

Updated: 09:53 Thursday, February 16, 2006