By Ben Kerrigan-
British prime minister, Boris Johnson has confirmed a £1.8m cash injection to help patient care in the Uk.
The prime minister has promised more beds, new cutting-edge equipment and additional wards to be delivered at hospitals across the country.
Visiting a Lincolnshire hospital today, Boris Johnson will announce the 20 hospitals set to share £850 million of new funding to upgrade outdated facilities and equipment – helping improve patient care and ultimately save more lives.
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The Prime Minister is also set to confirm a £1 billion boost to NHS capital spending, allowing existing upgrade programmes to proceed and tackling the most urgent infrastructure projects.
Later this week, the Health Secretary will also set out further changes to the NHS pension scheme to support senior doctors and GPs taking on extra shifts.
Ahead of his visit today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
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”The NHS is always there for us – free at the point of use for everyone in the country.
With our doctors and nurses working tirelessly day in day out, this treasured institution truly showcases the very best of Britain.
That’s why I made it my immediate task to make sure frontline services have the funding they need, to make a real difference to the lives of NHS staff, and above all, of patients.
Today I’m delivering on this promise with a £1.8 billion cash injection – meaning more beds, new wards, and extra life-saving equipment to ensure patients continue to receive world-class care.
It’s time to face up to this challenge and make sure the NHS receives the funds it needs, to continue being the best healthcare service in the world.
Today’s announcement delivers on the Prime Minister’s pledge when entering Downing Street to urgently upgrade 20 hospitals, and ensure money invested in the NHS is reaching the frontline as soon as possible.
On the visit later today, Boris Johnson is expected to speak to doctors, nurses and other frontline staff to hear directly their thoughts on where the NHS could be better supported.
The £1.8 billion funding is in addition to the extra £33.9 billion, in cash terms, the NHS is set to receive every year by 2023/24 through the Long Term Plan agreed last year. Over £1 billion of this will be spent this year, meaning an annual increase in the NHS’s capital budget of 30%.
The devolved administrations will receive additional Barnett funding in the normal way; indicative allocations are around £110 million for Wales, £180 million for Scotland and £60 million for Northern Ireland.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid said:
”Thanks to the hard work of the British people, and the fundamental strength of our economy, we’re in a position to further increase funding for our NHS, ensuring quick access to quality healthcare for those who need it.
This £1.8 billion for frontline services will not just go towards better equipment and technology, but important upgrades of hospitals across the country.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
I love the NHS – and so do the millions of taxpayers and their families cared for by our NHS every month. We owe it to them to make sure they can get the best treatment in the best hospitals.
On top of the extra £33.9 billion a year we are giving the NHS, today we are making a downpayment for the future of NHS buildings and facilities, with a £1.8 billion fund to revitalise our hospitals and immediate funding for bigger wards, better mental health units, and state of the art children’s hospitals in areas that need them the most.
This is just the start of our Health Infrastructure Plan, with patients set to see and feel the benefits for years to come.
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