Staff, patients and visitors at NHS hospitals in Cornwall will benefit from new or upgraded facilities and other significant improvements by the spring.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced today that the government is investing £600million to tackle “crucial” maintenance work in hospitals across England which will “deliver immediate benefits”.
The South West has been allocated £45.8million of this for 199 maintenance projects across 21 Trusts. Cornwall will receive £1.8million for 12 projects. This includes £1.7million for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (seven projects) and £100,000 for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (five projects).
Meanwhile, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, which provides services in Cornwall and across the region, has been awarded £925,000 for eight projects. The projects are underway and will be completed by March 2021.
They include new or refurbished buildings to deliver key services, replacing hospital lifts, upgrading electrical infrastructure, work to improve fire safety and enhancing ventilation systems. The investment is part of £1.5billion announced by the Prime Minister in the summer to level up hospital infrastructure across the NHS.
This includes plans to modernise mental health facilities, expand A&E capacity and improve infection control ahead of winter. At the 2019 general election, the Conservatives promised to invest in the NHS to ensure staff had world-class facilities to provide care for patients. Since August last year, the government has confirmed £850million to upgrade 20 hospitals and £3.7billion to help deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030. Last month’s Spending Review confirmed a dedicated £1.2billion for new NHS hospitals in 2021/22.
Good progress has also been made on the Conservatives’ pledge of 50,000 more nurses by 2025. The statistics show there are already 14,800 more nurses in the NHS than a year ago.
Health Secretary 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.”
North Cornwall MP Scott Mann said:
"I am very happy to welcome the Health Secretary’s announcement of the allocation of over £1.72m to upgrade and refurbish RCHT Treliske as part of our plans to help the NHS build back better after coronavirus. We were elected at last year’s election in order to deliver on the priorities of local people, like investing in the NHS and transforming our community for the better.
"That’s why we are providing funding to tackle critical maintenance work in our main hospital, refurbishing wards, installing brand-new electrics and upgrading ventilation systems. The work is scheduled to be completed by March 2021. These crucial projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to patients."
ENDS