The UK Government has allocated £600m in funding for the upgrade and refurbishment of National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in England.
The funding will be available to 178 NHS trusts and will be used for nearly 1,800 maintenance projects. The investment will be used for construction of new or refurbished buildings to deliver major services, upgrades to electrical infrastructure and ventilation systems’ enhancements.
Additionally, works to improve fire safety and to replace hospital lifts will be carried out. Work on the projects have already started and are expected to wrap up by March next year.
Some of the projects include £15.9m for the new critical care centre at Northampton General Hospital, £3.3m for a new paediatric integrated unit at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and £6.5m for a new MRI building to house a new scanner at St George’s Hospital in London.
Northern General Hospital will receive £2.7m to revamp the Firth Theatres, including critical care, cardiovascular surgery and other surgical wards.
The £600m investment is part of the £1.5bn capital funding announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the NHS.
In October this year, Johnson confirmed that 40 hospitals will be constructed by 2030 as part of a package worth £3.7bn.
UK 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.”
Moreover, the latest funding is in addition to £450m more investment from the government for 142 hospital accident and emergency (A&E) upgrades.