The county health service has received a £30 million boost for 2002.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has announced Worcestershire will receive £393 million funding next April - an increase of £30 million.

Mr Milburn said the 9.3 per cent increase for health authorities was to further reduce waiting times, particularly for heart patients.

He said from the middle of next year patients waiting for a heart operation for more than six months could choose between public and private hospitals, home and abroad.

Other priorities were ensuring 90 per cent of GPs saw their patients within 48 hours.