Local MP Kevin Foster has welcomed the news that Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust will receive £897,000 of capital funding to ease pressure on our local A&E services.
Kevin has lobbied Health Ministers at Westminster continually in recent months about our local health services, including holding face to face meetings with senior NHS ministers. This new funding is part of an allocation being made today by the Department of Health of £55.98 million of the £100 million A&E capital funding, outlined in the spring Budget by the Chancellor, to ease pressure on emergency departments in time for next winter.
The funding will be used by hospitals to meet the 95% standard of admitting, transferring, or discharging patients within 4 hours by ensuring patients are treated in the most appropriate setting. The plans outlined by trusts include primary care streaming and co-locating GP practices within A&E departments to ensure patients are treated in the most appropriate setting.
This investment is one part of the A&E plan being implemented across the NHS this year to get performance to 95% during 2018.