A FUNDING package has been agreed between health chiefs and the government to improve the infrastructure at a North-East hospital.

The agreement was reached after North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust approached the government for support after a proposed new development at Wynyard was scrapped.

Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton raised the issue with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to secure the funding.

As a result, the government has agreed to support the Trust and its plan to spend £25 million on work to upgrade and modernise the power connection to the hospital site.

Mr Wharton said: “Now the Wynyard Hospital debate is in the past we need to focus on getting investment into North Tees. It has been neglected for too long and this work is necessary to secure its infrastructure and ensure it can meet the needs of the future.

"I want to see more investment in the future for additional work but this first £25 million being spent now is a really positive start. We need our hospital to be properly supported and equipped to offer the very best in healthcare. I am pleased to be working with the Trust to deliver that.”

Last October, the Trust suspended the Wynyard Hospital scheme, because of a lack of “high-level political support”.

Wynyard was given the go-ahead by Labour's health secretary Andy Burnham in 2010, but axed by the Coalition within weeks of it coming to power because of its £464 million upfront cost.

Chief executive Alan Foster at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “We really welcome this much needed investment which secures the longer term future of the hospital.”