Funds Release For Expansion Of NHS Hospital Wards n New Operating Theatres

About seven hundred million pounds is being released to NHS organisations across the country for upgrading wards, operating theatres and diagnostic kits.

The news comes as the Government is expected to publish a document on Friday setting out the key challenges facing NHS and social care services this winter.

Expanded hospital wards and new operating theatres will help the NHS with additional pressures over the winter, ministers have announced.

Funds are being released to hospitals across England to help them combat winter challenges while reducing the backlog of care built up over the pandemic.

We’re taking unprecedented steps to keep people healthy this winter.

The document will also detail the challenges posed by Covid-19 and the potential threat of new variants.

It will also inform the public what they can “expect from health and care services this year”, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

The money will fund projects including additional day surgery units, extra operating theatres and surgical hubs, increasing space for patients who do not need to be admitted, and new or upgraded imaging equipment including MRI scanners and mobile breast screening units.

The cash, which is being drawn from £5.4 billion already announced to support the NHS response to the pandemic, will also help create more inpatient beds, more specialist intensive treatment unit beds and a “modular ward”.

In total, 785 schemes have been approved, the department said.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Ahead of what is going to be a difficult winter, we’re putting everything behind our health and care services, so everyone can access the services they need, when they need them.

“Our £700 million investment will help more people get treated over the coming months by upgrading wards, operating theatres and diagnostic kit.

“We’re taking unprecedented steps to keep people healthy this winter, putting the booster rollout on steroids, and delivering the largest flu vaccine programme in UK history.