117 trusts to share £300m fund to upgrade A&E facilities

Liaison Financial

The government has this week announced that 117 NHS organisations will receive a share from a £300million funding pot in order to upgrade their A&E facilities before winter.

The announcement has come as the government seeks to reassure the public of attending hospitals in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, and has advised that the fund could be used to expand waiting areas to allow for ongoing social distancing, or increase the number of treatment cubicles to reduce overcrowding.

In announcing the fund, Prime Minster Boris Johnson said:

“We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300 million allocated today for NHS trusts to upgrade their facilities and improve A&E capacity.

“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.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

“It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe.”

For those trusts in receipt of a share of the fund, they will now have to act immediately to get capital projects underway, as all projects are expected to be completed by the start of 2021 in order to meet the winter deadline.

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