MORE than £158m will be spent improving the health of residents in Durham and Chester-le-Street this year.

The cash equates to £1,043 for every resident in the two districts.

Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) has unveiled its spending plans for local health services.

Top of its list is funding more operations, providing better doctors' surgeries, and enabling GPs to prescribe more life-saving drugs. It also plans to spend cash to cut patient waiting times.

The PCT's budget for 2004 to 2005 includes an extra £5.1m that will help it meet its new responsibilities for prison health care. A further £9.5m will fund a new General Medical Services contract with GPs.

Andrew Young, PCT chief executive, said: "Thanks to additional funding received from the Department of Health, the PCT is now able to offer a greater range of services.

"The continuing challenges we face are to achieve national priorities, reduce waiting times for treatment and deliver on our promises to improve health services for local people."

The trust has spent the past few months consulting partner organisations such as councils, hospitals and patient groups, on the best way to spend the cash.

The business plan will see improved access for patients to Accident and Emergency services. A one-stop out-of-hours service is to be established for primary care.

More funding will go on the fight against rising levels of obesity and tackling smoking, sexually transmitted diseases and drug and alcohol abuse.

At the same time, services for people with heart disease will be boosted, and the waiting times for coronary artery bypass operations will be cut.

Extra consideration will also be given to treating people with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes.

The trust intends to put more money into improving services for people with mental health issues and those with learning disabilities.

Mr Young said: "We have had a difficult task, given the competing priorities for investment in primary, community and hospital care, prevention and ambulance services.

"But the investments and objectives set out in our business plan 2004/05 will help us to continue to make significant improvements in health and health services locally."

Copies of the business plan are available from the trust, on 0191-301 1300