08.09.17
DH releases £14m to hospitals to relieve winter pressures
An extra 19 hospitals in England are to benefit from extra government cash to support their emergency care services over winter.
In total, £13m of winter funding will be sent to hospitals to prepare them for busy times ahead, bringing the total figure given since April to over £90m.
The money will go towards help hospitals finalise preparations, particularly with handling large volumes of patients attending A&E.
Investment in necessary equipment or infrastructure will allow hospitals to improve patient flow and relieve pressure on emergency departments.
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff, the NHS has put in place strong plans ahead of winter – ensuring patients continue to receive safe and efficient care as demand rises over the coming months,” said health minister Philip Dunne said.
“This funding will give more hospitals the boost they need to streamline patient flow in A&E, freeing up A&Es to care for the sickest patients and helping make sure all patients get the right treatment in the right place as quickly as possible.”
The funding comes after a number of key health organisations warned that the upcoming winter could be a difficult one for the NHS.
Though the funding will be welcomed by trusts, it comes nowhere near what is actually needed to ensure safe care this winter, with NHS Providers estimating that between £200 and £350m was required to deliver services safely.
Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS Improvement, also urged trusts to dedicate a “hard focus” to winter planning as many faced a tough financial period last year.
The funding will be split up as follows:
Top Image: sturti
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