Every NHS hospital could gain foundation status within five years with the help of a £200m funding boost to be launched by Health Secretary Alan Milburn today.

The publication of the NHS Improvement Programme comes ahead of tomorrow's Commons vote on the controversial foundation hospitals plan, at which the Government faces the real prospect of defeat.

The initiative is designed to counter the criticisms of backbench Labour MPs and trade unions who claim that the scheme will create a "two-tier" health service with different standards of treatment in different parts of the country.

So far, about 30 high-performing hospitals have applied for foundation status, which would transform them into independent not-for-profit organisations within the NHS, able to raise money and make managerial decisions for themselves.

Mr Milburn went on the offensive to face down a possible revolt in the Commons over controversial reform of the NHS when it is debated tomorrow.

More than 130 Labour backbenchers have signed an early day motion threatening to rebel over the issue, fearing the proposals amount to a creeping privatisation of the health service.

However, Mr Milburn said yesterday: "I will resign if there is a question of introducing more charges for NHS patients - that is not what this is about."

Announcing the £200m NHS Improvement Programme, Mr Milburn said every NHS hospital could gain foundation status within five years.

And he told The Northern Echo last night there was a real possibility that the region could become home to one of the new super hospitals by the summer.

The region's flagship trust-Newcastle Hospitals - has expressed an interest in becoming a foundation hospital along with North Tees and Hartlepool and City Hospitals Sunderland.

Mr Milburn said: "Just as we want greater devolution from Whitehall to our region, we want greater devolution of power from Whitehall to our local communities.

"Here in the North-East, local people will be able to welcome their own representatives to serve on hospital boards, and doctors and nurses will have a big say in how these hospitals are run."

However, a number of MPs from the region voiced their concerns.

Easington MP John Cummings, who fears that a two-tier health service could be created, said: "I hope it does not come to Alan Milburn resigning and I hope that the issue can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction."

Kevan Jones, MP for Durham North, said: "I do not feel that it is going to bring any tangible benefits to health care in County Durham."

Mr Milburn has warned MPs refusing to back the new policy that they are failing to face the challenge to reform the NHS.

The Darlington MP said: "The NHS Improvement Programme - including the extra financial support it brings - will help each and every NHS hospital that wishes to become an NHS Foundation Trust over the next four to five years."

The programme of support under the package will be targeted at hospitals and primary care trusts which scored two stars or less in recent ratings.