The Government has announced a £7bn package of funding for health and care services to support the next phase of the NHS response to Covid-19, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
Over the next six months, the NHS will receive £6.6bn in additional funding to support the continued delivery of the health service’s Covid-19 response, as well as the recovery of elective services as hospitalisation figures continue to fall.
The additional funding package brings the total amount of additional support given to UK health services to handle Covid-19 to £92bn, with £63bn awarded for this year and £29bn for next year.
Of the £6.6bn funding to the NHS, it will help provide support and capacity as the pandemic continues.
It is intended to be used to support the hospital discharge programme, primary care costs, infection control measures and long Covid services.
Similarly, it will ensure the NHS can continue to provide the mental health and occupational health support services it has put in place for nurses, paramedics, therapists, pharmacists and other staff working on the frontline during the pandemic.
In addition, the Government announced an additional £341m for adult social care to enable to continuation of rigorous infection prevention measures and support rapid testing to keep staff and residents safe in day care, respite care, care homes and other community care settings.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We’ve backed the NHS at every point in this pandemic, so they can treat patients, stay safe and save lives.
“We’re backing them again today with a further £6.6bn of funding for the first half of this financial year, including £594m towards safe hospital discharge.
“I can announce £341m to support adult social care with the costs of infection prevention control and testing that will make sure visits are safe for everyone.
“We will also be extending enhanced discharge arrangements for mental health patients.”
