PLANS for a new Alder Hey hospital were given a double boost last night during a visit from the Health Secretary.

Andrew Lansley took a tour of the current West Derby site and was shown draft plans for the £288m “Children’s Health Park” project.

He hailed the blueprints as “visionary” and announced the Government will now underwrite all Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes it approves.

This means trusts can get a cheaper rate of borrowing.

Two consortia, Acorn and Balfour Beatty, are currently working with the trust to develop their design, before one is chosen in December.

Mr Lansley said the plans were impressive because they do not just concentrate on the physical building: “They are both visionary designs.

“What is exciting is it is not just about ‘we need to build a new hospital because we need new accommodation’, it is way beyond that.

“It is thinking how you can create something which is the centre of a service, a service that delivers children’s healthcare right across the region.”

He said the Government did not want to get in the way of the trust’s plans and would work with chiefs to make sure the build is affordable.