AN ADDITIONAL £3.9million into Worcestershire’s cash-strapped health services has been welcomed by the Vale’s MPs.
Nigel Huddleston and Harriett Baldwin both backed the cash boost which is part of the £350million package of additional winter funding announced in the recent budget by Chancellor Phillip Hammond.
They say the money will help local Worcestershire hospitals through the peak winter period and go towards improvements, particularly at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Improvements to operating theatres and endoscopy services at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch; a dedicated obstetric theatre and paediatric assessment unit at Worcestershire Royal and an enclosed bridge link between the main Worcestershire Royal building and Aconbury building which will allow much easier patient flow between the buildings are all on the list of projects.
In addition, Health Minister Philip Dunne MP responded to a question raised by Mr Huddleston and confirmed Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust had won approval for an additional £29million in funding for building improvements.
“I am pleased Worcestershire will be receiving its fair share of additional funding that will be particularly helpful in improving A&E performance throughout the winter period,” said Mr Huddleston.
“I am particularly pleased the Health Minister was able to confirm the Trust will be receiving the £29million for building improvements that it had bid for.
“Following many meetings and discussions with the Department of Health over several months, Worcestershire MPs and hospital bosses were hopeful – but not certain – that the funding would be forthcoming.
“Full credit is due to the team at the trust who clearly pulled together a compelling business case.”
The trust has already had nearly £1million to fund a new unit to help with winter pressures and will be allocating extra money to add capacity to ensure people spend less time waiting on trolleys to be treated or discharged.
Mrs Baldwin said: “I was delighted to hear the funding has now been confirmed and local health chiefs can now press on making plans for their building improvements.
“This money will provide much-needed extra capacity and hopefully help the Trust on its improvement path towards coming out of special measures.
“I’m also keen to share the message we can all help our local NHS by only using A&E when the need really is urgent and instead use GP surgeries or our local community hospitals where at all possible.”
