HEALTH chiefs have announced they are to invest an extra £12.3m to improve health services in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area.

The Primary Care Trust (PCT) has a total budget of £174.1m to spend on local health services during 2005/06.

Its aim is to invest in developing new primary and community services, delivering better and quicker access to hospital services and in improving care for those with long-term and chronic conditions, such as cancer and heart disease.

Andrew Young, chief executive of Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT, said: "Speedy access to quality services is important to the population we serve and is central to the Department of Health's policy.

"We are committed to achieving a maximum outpatient wait of three months and a maximum wait of six months for in-patients by December, building on our success to date in reducing waiting times."

He added: "However, improving access is not just about getting people to hospital faster, but also about the care our staff provide in the community and in the family health services. We are increasingly offering alternative high-quality services to support our hospital colleagues.

"Our business plan, which was recently agreed, identifies the investments in these and other initiatives to improve the health and well-being of the population.

"Equally important in reducing the pressure on acute hospital services is the preventative advice and community care delivered by our frontline nursing staff, health visitors and by the health promotion team."