Government Confirms Funding for Facilities Upgrades at 117 NHS Trusts

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• Government Confirms Funding for Facilities Upgrades at 117 NHS Trusts

11 August 2020 | Updated 18 August 2020

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today announce that £300 million will be awarded to 117 NHS Trusts, as part of the government’s “build back better” pledge.

The funding is intended to upgrade accident and emergency facilities across the trusts, to help the NHS prepare for winter 2020 and any further spikes of COVID-19. The investment will also allow the NHS to maintain the Nightingale hospitals until the end of March 2021.

This funding is in addition to last year’s announcement that 20 hospitals will receive a share of £850 million to upgrade outdated facilities and equipment.

The PM is also expected to reiterate the strict social distancing and hygiene measures in hospitals, and highlight that the public should feel confident to visit A&E for the treatment they need, in an emergency.

How Will the Funding be Used?

According to the government’s official press release, hospitals could use the new funding to expand waiting areas and increase the number of treatment cubicles, helping them boost A&E capacity by providing additional space, reducing overcrowding and improving infection control measures.

They could also increase the provision of same-day emergency care and improve patient flow in the hospital to help the NHS respond to winter pressures and the risk from further outbreaks of coronavirus.

Projects will be completed by the start of next year so hospitals benefit from the upgrades during the peak of winter. 

Health Minister Edward Argar commented on the plans: “Our NHS did an amazing job to ensure emergency care continued to be available for everyone who needed it during the peak of this pandemic.

“Today, we are announcing the details of the Trusts across the country who will receive a share of £300 million to upgrade their A&Es and support emergency care to help them to continue to deliver safe and accessible services throughout the normally busy winter period.

This funding is part of our record investment in NHS infrastructure to ensure our health services continue to meet the needs of the present and to be fit for future demands placed upon it.

This funding forms part of an extra £1.5 billion capital funding announced by the PM.”

A full list of regional allocations can be found here. 

Picture: A photograph showing an A&E waiting room, with some empty seats and a wheelchair

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 11 August 2020

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