AN EXTRA £3.9million has been allocated to local hospitals to help hospitals cope with the added pressures brought on by winter pressures.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will receive £1.3million in winter revenue funding, announced by the Chancellor last month.
The remaining £2.6million will be shared between the Acute Trust, the county’s three clinical commissioning groups and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust.
The cash will focus on securing the right numbers of doctors and nurses, increasing bed availability, and making sure there is strong social care and community care support available to help discharge patients from hospital quickly.
The funding will be used to move the Frailty Unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch to seven-day working, further expand the Evergreen 2 Ward at Worcestershire Royal by increasing beds and staff, and buying additional nursing home beds for patients to support their discharge from hospital.
The number of district nurses and other community-based healthcare staff will also be increased so more patients can be cared for in their homes.
The Trust is already in a stronger position this winter compared to last year thanks to a £920,000 Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit at the Royal and the Alex’s Frailty Unit which are both helping to reduce admissions to A&E.
The move has been welcomed by Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid.
He said: “I am pleased with this Government announcement of £3.9million additional funding and support over winter for our local NHS. This is brilliant news for residents.
“It’s been my top priority to get our health services back.
“In the past year, I’ve met with the Health Secretary and Chief Executive of the Trust to express my concerns and to push for better services for residents.
“Looking ahead, I will continue to represent my constituents to ensure they have the safe and reliable health services they deserve.”
