Government pledges almost £140m for NHS urgent care ahead of winter
The government has announced almost £140 million for 14 urgent-care schemes across England, with 25 further sites due to open for winter.
The government has announced almost £140 million (about $187 million) for 14 urgent-care schemes across England as the NHS braces for winter pressures. The announcement was made on Sunday, 18 October, after a summer of record NHS activity and extreme heat.
The funding will support urgent treatment centres, same-day emergency care units, ambulance fleets and emergency department upgrades, according to the announcement reported by Reuters and British media. A further 25 new or expanded urgent-care sites, announced in April, are set to be ready for winter.
Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Winter will be more challenging for our NHS this year, after such a heavy summer. That’s why we have been preparing early and investing in extra urgent care capacity to help get patients the care they need.”
Dr Emma Rowland, NHS Executive Director for Performance and Delivery, said investment in same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres would help patients receive suitable care in the right setting, and urged eligible people to get winter vaccinations. More than 7.4 million flu vaccinations had been delivered in England by 11 October.
The government also says it plans to invest almost £2 billion in urgent-care building projects by 2030, separate from £1.5 billion confirmed for urgent repairs across NHS buildings. The Pharmacy First scheme has been widened so pharmacies can treat more common conditions, and GP access has been expanded through evening, weekend and out-of-hours appointments during the colder months.
Sources: Reuters · Britain’s News · UKPulse
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