Government announces £600m to upgrade and refurbish 178 NHS Trusts
NHS Trusts are set to receive a share of £600 million to help eradicate the maintenance backlog in NHS hospitals, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed.
The money will be spread across 1,800 projects in 178 NHS Trusts in England to help tackle urgent maintenance issues by March 2021, with the projects now underway.
This latest NHS funding will be targeted towards a range of projects including building new or refurbished buildings to deliver key services; replacing hospital lifts; and improvements to ventilation systems.
The £600 million investment form part of £1.5 billion capital funding announced by the prime minister in the summer to help the NHS build back better, which included plans to expand A&E capacity and infection control ahead of winter.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better.
“These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”
The projects include £15.9 million for a new critical care centre at Northampton General Hospital and £3.3 million to Croydon Health Services NHS Trust for a new paediatric integrated unit.
NHS Trusts were provided an initial allocation based on need and were asked to put forward suitable projects that would deliver maximum impact and the best value for money. The full list of funding allocated to NHS Trusts can be found here
Following last month’s Spending Review, £1.2 billion has been ring-fenced for NHS new hospitals and upgrades in 2021/22, plus £4.2 billion for NHS operational capital funding.
The Treasury has also confirmed there will be a further boost for technology and digital projects including AI labs and remote GP appointments, diagnostic equipment and a science hub in the future.
