York Hospital’s accident and emergency unit has been allocated £936,000 to get winter ready.
The money is York’s share of a £300 million investment by the government to boost A and E capacity in good time for the cold weather, when the hospitals will have to face both the standard winter spike in admissions, and the potential threat of a coronavirus upsurge.
It will help pay for improved urgent care and emergency treatment services, and the introduction of enhanced infection prevention and control measures.
York Outer MP Julian Sturdy welcomed the announcement.
“Given the ongoing efforts of our NHS Trust staff, and the absolute priority of remaining vigilant against any local uptick in covid, it is reassuring that our vital local A and E services are getting these new resources in good time before the greater strain of the winter months,” he said.
“At December’s election I pledged to ensure York got its fair share of the £33.9 billion per year NHS funding increase the government is implementing, and I am also working to make sure our local health service gets whatever it needs beyond this to face the twin challenges of winter and lingering coronavirus.”