Yvette Cooper Pledges £140 Million for Urgent Care in England
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced £140m for urgent care in England, including ambulance fleets and emergency department upgrades. The government says…
Yvette Cooper pledges £140m for urgent care in England as the NHS prepares for a winter expected to bring heavier pressure than usual. The health secretary said the funding will support ambulance fleets, new urgent care centres and emergency department upgrades.
The investment covers 14 schemes across the country. The government says the NHS has been preparing since July for seasonal illnesses, following a summer that put extra strain on health services.
“Winter will be more challenging for our NHS this year, after such a heavy summer,” Cooper said. “That’s why we have been preparing early and investing in extra urgent care capacity to help get patients the care they need.”
The funding is intended to expand capacity for patients needing urgent treatment. For the public, the practical aim is to direct more people to care outside emergency departments where appropriate, while helping hospitals manage those who do need emergency treatment.
Summer pressure and early flu concerns
Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E between June and August, the highest figure for a summer period, according to the report. The summer’s extreme heat added to pressure on the NHS.
In September, experts warned of a “twin crisis”: the effects of record summer temperatures alongside winter illnesses such as flu and norovirus. The NHS’s national medical director also warned earlier this month that hospitals were showing “ominous” signs of an early flu season.
Prof Frankie Swords said hospital admissions for flu were the “highest” she could remember for the time of year. The report also noted an expected increase in Covid admissions.
There is little room to absorb more demand. The funding is aimed at urgent care capacity, but nursing leaders say staffing constraints remain a serious concern.
Nursing leaders warn funding may not solve shortages
Emma Rowland, NHS England’s executive director for performance and delivery, said investment in same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres could help patients receive appropriate treatment while easing pressure on emergency departments.
“We know this winter will be tough for the NHS and we’re doing everything we can to reduce pressure on our emergency departments and make sure patients get the care they need, while protecting our staff,” Rowland said.
She urged people eligible for vaccination to get vaccinated against flu and other winter viruses.
Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing England, welcomed the money as a short-term measure but said it would provide “just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point”. She said the nursing workforce was entering winter short of staff and “already running on empty”.
Marquis said ministers would have an opportunity, with the budget just weeks away, to invest in growing the nursing workforce and protecting patient care throughout the year.
The announced funding will be distributed across 14 schemes.
Source: theguardian.com
