Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has welcomed further healthcare funding from the Government for a £23,997,000 expansion to Glenfield Hospital, creating two new modular wards and 56 more beds.
Glenfield Hospital is the biggest recipient of funding from this announcement, which aims to move patients out of A&E more quickly or to help more patients receive same day urgent and emergency care.
The plan – consisting of 30 schemes across England and worth a total of £250 million – also includes a commitment for 800 new ambulances, including specialist mental health ambulances to improve response times this winter.
This funding is in addition to the hundreds of millions already pledged in May from the New Hospital Programme for the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.
The Department for Health and Social Care confirmed it will deliver a new hospital at the Leicester Royal Infirmary for women's and ICU services, a midwifery-led unit at Leicester General Hospital and a new hospital at the Glenfield for elective inpatients, theatres, outpatients and day cases.
University Hospitals Leicester’s share of the £20 billion New Hospitals Programme is the largest in the Midlands one of the largest capital commitments in the NHS.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said “I know healthcare is a top priority for people and families across our community, so I’m pleased to see the Government continuing to invest in Leicester and Leicestershire’s healthcare infrastructure.
“Two new modular wards bringing 56 additional beds to Glenfield, on top of the new hospital for elective inpatients, theatres, outpatients and day cases at the hospital, is really terrific for our area and I know will be welcome news.
“I’m continuing my call for a hat-trick of health, working alongside our NHS to push for approval on the Day Case Unit at Hinckley Hospital so that people can undergo small procedures locally and hope to have an update soon.”
Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said “We know that winter is a difficult time so we’re working to get ahead of pressures whilst also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. That’s why we’re investing this £250 million to support NHS capacity and deliver 900 new beds [across England], as part of our drive to put in place 5,000 permanent additional beds.
“Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times and cut waiting lists - one of the Government’s top five priorities.”
Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, said “Our winter plans, which build on the progress already made on our urgent and emergency care recovery plan, aim to reduce waiting times for patients and to transform services with an expansion of same day care and virtual wards, helping patients to be cared for in their own home where possible.”
