A new �4.5m cardiology centre at Lister Hospital, described as already providing a first class service, was officially opened on Friday.

Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes joined Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland to unveil a plaque at the new development. Ms Rhodes has been a long-standing supporter of the hospital, raising thousands of pounds for new equipment.

The Hertfordshire Cardiology Centre, part of a �150m redevelopment of the Stevenage site, began treating patients in November and provides more capacity for and a greater range of emergency and planned cardiac services.

Nick Carver, East and North Herts NHS Trust chief executive, said it has already proven to provide a “truly first class” cardiac service to patients.

“This important project underlines the trust’s ambition to improve even further specialist inpatient and emergency care for local people,” he said.

“It is also a great example of the improvements in the quality of treatments that our staff can provide to their patients when such specialist services are brought together on to a single site.”

The centre operates from 8.30am to 5pm, but the trust’s long-term goal is to provide 24 hour care. Outside the current hours patients are taken to Papworth or Harefield hospitals.