CHRISTMAS came early for West Somerset with the announcement of a £24 million deal for Minehead's new community hospital yesterday (Thursday). Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt announced that Somerset Primary Care Trust has made a successful bid for a share of a £750 million funding pot. The money will cover the cost of building the new hospital and will help to put the entire New Horizons 'healthplex' scheme on a firmer footing. The new hospital is one of the lynchpins in the New Horizons project, which also includes plans for a leisure complex and a skills and enterprise centre. Andrew Tucker, chairman of the New Horizons group, confirmed the Government's commitment to the new hospital was crucial. "The announcement of this funding is a very important part of realising the vision of creating a centre of health and well-being excellence in West Somerset," he said. "Somerset County Council, West Somerset Council, Dorset and Somerset Primary Care Trust and the West Somerset Community College are determined to deliver all of the improvements contained in the New Horizons project and this announcement is an very important step forward in achieving our shared goals." The new hospital will boast 20 in-patient beds, diagnostic services and investigations, including radiology and pathology, clinical assessment facilities, day surgery, outpatient facilities and a drop-in treatment centre. There will also be a patient support centre, a mental health day unit, a minor injuries unit and an ambulance station. Jane Barrie, the chairman of Somerset Primary Care Trust, said the board was "absolutely delighted" the trust's bid had been successful. She said: "It secures the development of a much- needed new community hospital for the people of Minehead and West Somerset and enables us to press ahead as planned. "The town's old hospital has served the community well, but it will not be able to fulfil the future demands we expect to be placed on local health services, so we need a new hospital. "Modern medical technology is also enabling us to bring services out of the big district hospitals and into the community, which is where patients say they would prefer to be seen. "Community hospitals are not a relic of the past but a key part of a modern NHS." The new hospital is being designed to make use of the latest diagnostic technology and will combine rapid access to "one-stop" medical services. As well as providing quick access to out-patient clinics, specialist services and day surgery, there will also be provision for "on demand" services through a drop-in treatment centre and a patient support centre. It is hoped the new community hospital could be opening its doors to patients by summer 2009. Leader of West Somerset Council, Cllr Christine Lawrence, said: "I am absolutely delighted - it's the best Christmas present Minehead could have." And local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said it was "phenomenal news". "This is the biggest thing that will happen in West Somerset for decade," he said. "I'm over the moon. "Everybody has now got to act responsibly and make sure this gets done without any squabbling." The planning and design of the new hospital is already well underway, with an outline planning application submitted to West Somerset Council earlier this month.