NHS trusts are to receive £600 million to help eradicate the maintenance backlog in NHS hospitals and hospitals at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge are among those that will benefit.
Wirral University Hospitals Trust, which runs both hospitals, has been allocated £1.4m, to support critical projects and to tackle areas of backlog maintenance, including infrastructure improvements at Clatterbridge Hospital to include ward windows, electrical systems, replacing obsolete switchgear and fire alarm systems.
At Arrowe Park, the money will see critical care equipment replacements to include HDU and ITU ventilation, air handling units, replacement wash hand basins and pendants including medical gasses, power and data.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better.
“These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”
The latest figures for staffing in the NHS also show that there are now 13,313 more nurses and 6,030 more doctors. In addition, recent figures for this year show the highest ever number of GPs entering training with 3,793 posts accepted.
Article © Ian Lewis 2020
