27.11.13
More beds and staff to meet winter pressures – Hunt
The NHS will benefit from extra beds and staff to prepare for winter, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.
Nearly 2,500 beds across England will be provided and the equivalent of nearly 3,000 extra staff. This will be done by hiring temporary staff, extending existing staff hours, and creating new positions.
The announcement follows the £250m funding distributed earlier this year to 53 areas where hospitals are identified as under the most pressure, and an additional £150m announced by NHS England this month to minimise A&E attendances and hospital admissions from care homes, as well as seven-day social work.
Hunt said: “The NHS is performing well and more than 95% of patients are being seen in our A&E departments in under four hours.
“However, we know that cold weather affects our health and has an impact on the NHS every year. This year will be no different. That’s why we have prepared earlier than ever before by supporting the NHS with a £250m fund that has been used to hire more doctors and nurses, and provide more beds.
“We’re backing our hard working NHS staff with the extra doctors, nurses and beds they need to make sure patients get the excellent care they expect, no matter what season it is. Winter is tough. But the NHS has never been better prepared.”
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