UNDER pressure health chiefs have been handed nearly £1million by the Government to try and ease A&E pressures this coming winter.
Worcestershire Royal Hospital will receive £920,000 from a Department of Health fund set up to ease pressures at hospitals across the UK.
In total 70 hospitals will receive funding from the £100million pot of cash. The county’s A&E unit will receive the funding in time for this winter, in order to prevent the severe delays and heavy demand the hospital experienced last year.
The Department of Health has said the money will be used by hospitals to meet the 95 per cent standard of admitting, transferring, or discharging patients within four hours by ensuring patients are treated in the most appropriate setting.
This is a target which Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worcestershire Royal, hasn’t hit for more than two years.
Worcester’s MP Robin Walker said: “I am delighted at the Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times in Worcestershire with this sizable investment following our meeting earlier this year.
“I met with the new management team at the Alexandra hospital a few weeks ago and I am pleased that in addition to this funding we have a new leader with clinical experience coming into our trust.
“Clearly the long waiting times over the Christmas period were a massive issue and I am pleased to see action that will support our hard-working medical staff across the county.
“I will keep pressing making the case for substantial investment in capacity in our A&E.”
