Sir Alex Ferguson has said he was honoured to open a state-of-the-art health unit after his parents died from lung cancer.
The bronchoscopy unit at the North West Lung Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, will treble the number of patients that can be treated.
Bronchoscopy is a procedure which can help to diagnose and treat some conditions of the airways and lungs.
After unveiling a plaque at the unit on Monday, the former Manchester United boss said: " I was honoured to officially open this world-class unit which will significantly improve lung treatment and care for patients across the North West.
"It's fantastic to see facilities of this quality opening in Greater Manchester, which is a region that has a particular struggle with lung conditions
"As someone who has lost two parents to lung cancer, I'm only too aware of what a devastating and hard-to-treat disease this is, so it's very encouraging and inspiring to see the continual advancements being made in this area and the huge commitment and passion which clinicians bring to tackling this challenge."
He added: "My mother and father, I'm just so sad they had not had the benefits of what's on today and the progress that has been made."
Housing three fully-equipped procedure rooms, the £1 million Lucis Building - which houses the unit - is believed to be the largest centre of its kind in the country.
Professor Ashley Woodcock, clinical director for respiratory medicine, said: "We were delighted to welcome Sir Alex to celebrate the official opening of the Lucis Building. This facility will significantly advance treatment options for patients with bronchial conditions across the region and provide them with state-of-the-art care.
"This is a proud moment for the Trust and the bronchial team and reflects UHSM's (University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust) continuing commitment to transforming outcomes around lung cancer and bronchial conditions. The unit is the first of its kind in the country and complements a comprehensive review of lung services and joined-up, collaborative working with our regional partners."
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