WORCESTER'S new hospital was due to be officially opened by Health Secretary Alan Milburn this morning.

Mr Milburn was expected at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital from 11am, and was to unveil a plaque in the hospital's foyer.

As guest of honour, he will then be given a guided tour of parts of the hospital by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust bosses, before answering questions from the Evening News.

The Worcestershire Royal Hospital was opened to its first patients with great fanfare on Saturday, March 16.

Patients were transferred from the two old Worcester Royal Infirmary sites over two weekends in an operation that won plaudits from health watchdogs in the city.

The new hospital was funded by the controversial Private Finance Initiative, and cost more than £90m to build.

It replaced the former sites which had become delapidated with age and were not sufficient for the growing population of the county.

The move also brought health services in the city under one roof, ending the two-site confusion of the Ronkswood and Castle Street branches.

But the site has not been without its critics, with many complaining about poor parking facilities and narrow corridors.

Richard Haynes, spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the official opening would be a good way of marking the hospital's successes.

"It will be a fitting way to mark the hospital's first six months of treating patients," he said.

"It will also celebrate the hard work which all the staff have put in to make the move and the settling in process run so smoothly."