A RECORD £10.8m is being invested this year in equipment and facilities to improve hospital and community health services in south Durham.

The figure has more than doubled last year's Government allocations, in which NHS trusts are invited to bid for extra capital funding.

And South Durham Health Care NHS Trust hopes to exceed that figure during the next financial year.

The investment will pay for equipment and facilities to improve hospital and health centre services.

Since April, more than £3m has been spent on equipment for the new hospital at Bishop Auckland, with a £1m community hospital in Stanhope expected to be open early next year.

By the end of March, £140,000 will have been invested in staff personal computers to improve communications.

The services department at Darlington Memorial Hospital will also benefit. It is to be refurbished and fitted out with new equipment.

The trust has also received £392,000 to modernise the hospital's maternity unit and more than £600,000 has been secured from the Action on Orthopaedics fund, for new equipment.

More than £300,000 will also go to replace medical and surgical equipment.

The trust is allocated £2.2m every year for capital projects, such as refurbishments and new equipment.

Ann Farrar, head of planning and service development for the trust, said: "Attracting this level of external funding is a significant achievement and we are delighted that so many important developments are being made possible."