PATIENTS in Wiltshire are to benefit from a £7.2 million cash injection into local health services.

The money from the Health Department will provide extra staff and treatment and should be evident by the end of the year.

Dave Roberts from Wiltshire Health Authority said: This is what we have been wanting for so long now. It is an enormous step forward. Now what we wanted has become a reality not just inspirational.

Wiltshires five primary care groups will be sharing £5 million of the money, while the remainder will be spent on training staff in areas including the administration of new drugs, as well as on clearing the debts of the areas hospitals and reducing local waiting lists.

Ridgeway Downs Primary Care Group, which covers the Marlborough area and includes 13 doctors practices, will receive £784,000.

The North Wiltshire and Devizes area, which covers a larger population and includes 18 practices, will be given £974,000.

Both PCGs will each be looking to recruit a minimum of 25 staff, as well as improving the needs of their rural communities through more local and home-based services for patients.

Both groups are particularly concerned with reducing heart disease, one of Britains biggest killers. Some money will be spent on equipment to help detect heart disease.

It will be installed in some practices and hospitals in both areas, which could include Savernake Hospital and the community hospitals in Chippenham, Malmesbury and Devizes.

Ridgeway area PCG is spending part of its money in a similar way to North Wiltshire and Devizes by recruiting more physiotherapy staff, occupational therapists, district nurses and speech therapists to help provide stroke sufferers with a better service. It will include treating them at home whenever possible.

Part of the improvements for both PCGs will also include providing a better quality of service and making more resources available.