NUH will transform an administrative space into room for 24 news beds under the scheme.
254 new hospital beds will be delivered in the Midlands, backed by £83.9 million government funding to help treat patients more quickly this winter, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay will announce today.
The funding has been awarded to NHS trusts to relieve pressures and cut waiting times, one of the government’s top five priorities. It is part of a £250 million investment in 900 beds across the country.
5 NHS organisations in the Midlands will benefit from the investment in urgent and emergency care services. The NHS expects that the majority of schemes will be completed by January to help deal with winter pressures, with all schemes in place by the end of the financial year. This includes:
- Two new wards at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, backed by over £23 million in funding and providing 56 new beds
- Two new wards at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust which will offer 64 beds, enabled by over £21 million in funding
- 24 beds in a former administrative space at Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, backed by more than £9.8 million in funding
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.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“Cutting waiting lists is one of my top five priorities, so this year the government has started planning for winter earlier than ever before and the public can be reassured we are backing the NHS with the resources it needs.
“These 900 new beds will mean more people can be treated quickly, speeding up flow through hospitals and reducing frustratingly long waits for treatment.”
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.”
In total, the schemes will create 900 beds across 30 NHS organisations, which includes over 60 intermediate care beds and improving assessment spaces and cubicles in A&E.
