TANNI Grey-Thompson has opened a new £12 million NHS laboratory.

The former wheelchair racer, now a member of the House of Lords, opened a new state-of-the-art clinical testing facility at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

It will be used for testing for infection, fertility, blood and urine analysis and diagnosing cancer for patients across Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Baroness Grey-Thompson said: “It’s amazing to see such cutting edge technology brought to the North-East and I’m sure it can bring more benefits with it as the lab becomes more established.

“It’s great to know it has garnered interest from around the world and I think that’s testament to the Trusts getting together and making the new lab work, it can only be a good thing for the North-East.”

Ian Renwick, the hospital’s chief executive, said: “The importance of getting quick, accurate test results is valued by both patients and doctors in helping to assess what may be wrong and how they can be treated to the highest possible standard as soon as possible.

“Bringing this expertise under one roof and using the very latest in specialist technology for pathology has huge benefits for patients in this part of the North-East.”