THE Trust that runs Shropshire's two acute hospitals has welcomed the announcement that Government funding is being made available to transform hospital services.

Health Minister, Edward Argar MP, confirmed that £6m of funding has been approved in principle for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), to develop plans for the Hospitals Transformation Programme and produce an outline business case.

The Hospitals Transformation Programme is said to deliver safer care and better outcomes for our patients, reduce cancellations of planned care and also reduce the amount of time people stay in hospital.

Louise Barnett, chief executive at SaTH, welcomed the news.

"We welcome the announcement from the Department for Health and Social Care that £6m of funding has been approved in principle for the Hospitals Transformation Programme," she said.

"We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and local MPs as we further develop our plans."