NHS trusts in England to get £300m boost
NHS trusts across England will receive £300m to upgrade facilities ahead of winter amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the additional cash would ensure hospitals could maintain essential services and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection during the next few months.
In all, 117 trusts will benefit from the funding which could be used by hospitals to increase A&E capacity, provision of same-day emergency care and improve patient flows to help respond better to winter pressures and any coronavirus outbreaks.
Mr Johnson said: ‘These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver essential services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.’
All projects would be completed by the start of 2021, officials have said.
The funding comes from a £1.5bn capital building allocation for the NHS set out by Mr Johnson in June.
It comes on top of a £3bn cash injection for the NHS in England – with extra funding also for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – announced last month.
The cash has been earmarked to enable the NHS to continue to use extra hospital capacity from the independent sector, maintain Nightingale hospitals until the end of March and expand its flu vaccination programme.