The health secretary has confirmed that an extra £93 million is to be made available for NHS cardiac services.

John Reid made the announcement as he visited patients in the cardiac wards of Bournemouth hospital.

Labour members are gathered in the town for the party's autumn conference.

Speaking ahead of a key conference debate on the government's controversial hospital policies, Reid sought to indicate that a "modernised" health service could deliver improvements in care.

A total of £56.2 million will go to the cardiac centre at Basildon Hospital, £16.6 million will fund an extension at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, and £20.9 million will expand the cardiac centre at Nottingham City Hospital.

"Heart disease is the country's biggest killer and leaves hundreds of thousands of people in pain," said Reid.

"The work that the NHS has done to improve the way that we prevent deaths from heart disease and relieve suffering is an example of what the NHS can do, given the money and given the will to change."

He added that the government had delivered falling waiting times for heart operations, while 1.5 million patients are now receiving life-saving drugs which help prevent heart attacks.

"There is much further to go. The new schemes I have announced today will shorten waits and ensure that staff can care for patients in first-rate modern facilities," said Reid.

"Real investment, real reform, real improvement. Heart disease services are showing what can be achieved in a modern NHS."