Gareth Davies MP has welcomed Government investment of £200 million to boost resilience in the NHS and help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible this winter.
The new funding announced today comes after the Prime Minister and Health Secretary met clinical leaders and NHS chiefs yesterday to drive forward planning to ease pressures in urgent and emergency care while protecting waiting list targets this winter.
Winter is the busiest time for the NHS, with increased pressures from flu, COVID-19 and seasonal illness - combined this year with ongoing pressure from industrial action. That’s why the Government has started planning earlier than ever before to ensure patients get the care they need.
On top of this new funding, the urgent and emergency care recovery plan announced earlier this year and backed by £1 billion is boosting capacity in the NHS by providing 5,000 additional beds, 800 new ambulances, and 10,000 virtual wards.
As a result, significant progress has been made. Compared to July 2022:
- Average Category 2 ambulance response times are now 27 minutes faster
- 2,500 more general and acute beds and 9,700 virtual ward beds available
- 1,500 fewer people stuck in hospital when they are medically fit to be discharged
