LOCAL patients are to benefit from a share of more than £330million extra NHS funding announced by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The money has been allocated to health trusts around the country to improve equipment and facilities after the government made savings during the current financial year.

Poole is to benefit from £1.3million of upgrades to cancer therapy equipment, while Dorset County Hospital receives £1.9million to replace essential medical equipment, including a CT scanner.

South Western Ambulance Service gains £500,000 for equipment including ECG machines, blood pressure and blood oxygen monitors in ambulances. It is also investing in machines for recording patients’ key health readings and transmitting them electronically to hospital emergency departments or cardiac care units.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “We have saved money in central capital budgets this year, which means we can spend more money.”