The investment will be used to provide a new unit at the emergency department to help ambulance transfers and assessments for surgery.
This is part of a £250 million investment that will deliver 900 new hospital beds across England to help treat patients more quickly this winter. We have awarded this funding to NHS trusts to relieve pressures and help cut waiting times – one of the Government’s top five priorities.
30 NHS organisations across England will benefit from the investment to help ease pressure in urgent and emergency care services. This includes developing or expanding five urgent treatment centres and four same-day emergency care services which will help patients to be seen more quickly, without being admitted to hospital. The NHS expects that the majority of schemes will be completed by January to help deal with winter pressures.
This investment is part of the NHS Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan, published in January, which set out plans to provide over 5,000 additional permanent, fully staffed hospital beds in total, with the NHS on track to deliver this by winter. These new 900 beds are part of this commitment.
Patients are already seeing improvements as a result of the Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan, backed by record funding – with average Category 2 ambulance response times down by 27 minutes in July last year, and down by 60 minutes on the peak of winter pressures seen in December 2022.
Jack Brereton, Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South said:
“I am very pleased to hear the Royal Stoke Hospital is getting another £13.4 million from the Government to help reduce delays and free up around 50 beds through creating a new unit.
Residents regularly contact me regarding NHS waiting times which has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic. After raising this in the Chamber and speaking with colleagues and Ministers in Westminster, I am pleased to see my constituents concerns being heard and The Royal Stoke will receive more support to help ensure the best possible care for patients.
This will help in reducing pressure on the Royal Stoke’s A&E Department, ensuring people in Stoke-on-Trent receive better and quicker treatment when they need it, increasing those who can receive treatment and return home on the same day to free up more beds.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay said:
“We know that winter is a difficult time so we’re working to get ahead of pressures whilst also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. That's why we're investing this £250 million to support NHS capacity and deliver 900 new beds, as part of our drive to put in place 5,000 permanent additional beds. Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times - one of the government’s top five priorities.”
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive said:
“Winter is always a busy time for the NHS and so it is right that we put robust plans in place as early as possible to boost capacity and help frontline staff to prepare for additional pressure. Our winter plans, which build on the progress already made on our urgent and emergency care recovery plan, aim to reduce waiting times for patients and to transform services with an expansion of same day care and virtual wards, helping patients to be cared for in their own home where possible.”
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