A state-of-the-art clinic is to be built on the former Sharoe Green Hospital site as part of £2.3million investment from Preston Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Known as the Healthport it has been designed by local health bosses, GPs and health specialists to offer specialist GP services such as skin clinics and minor surgery clinics as well as specialist services provided by the trust such as musculo skeletal physiotherapy.

Health bosses say the new clinic will also offer direct and fast access to a range of diagnostic services such as MRI, CT scans and ultrasound.

Doreen Hounslea, director of modernisation at Preston PCT, said: "The Healthport will deliver new ways of working and additional capacity that will enable patients to be seen quicker. It also provides patients with more choice on where they want to be treated."

Meanwhile a food and cleanliness survey, published today (Thursday), gave both the Royal Preston Hospital, and the site in Chorley, good ratings for the quality of cleanliness.

The Chorley hospital was rated excellent for the quality of food, by the national Patient Environment Action Team, while the Royal Preston was judged good in the same category.

Hospital chiefs have also revealed plans to create an on-site £1million cardio catheterisation laboratory to correct heart problems.

Currently cardio care, including coronary angiograms, is only provided at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Health bosses say, if the Royal Preston's proposals go ahead life-saving cardio care could be carried out locally as early as April next year and could eventually lead to permanent pacemaker implants being performed.

l Two out-reach flu jab sessions take place on Friday, December 9, between 10am and 3pm, at the Flag Market to provide vaccinations to high-risk groups.