Trust will receive £3m to improve urgent and emergency care at Bedford Hospital

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded £3m to improve urgent and emergency services at the Bedford Hospital site.

This funding means the Trust can now tend to its immediate priorities of extending the capacity within the waiting areas in the emergency department, improve children’s A&E and enhance the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service.

The funding is part of an overall package of £300m announced by the Government yesterday which will be spent on upgrading A&E facilities at 117 Trusts across the country, £28.8m of

which has gone to hospitals in the East of England region.

Hospitals could use the new funding to expand waiting areas and increase the number of treatment cubicles, helping them boost A&E capacity by providing additional space, reducing overcrowding and improving infection control measures.

They could also increase the provision of same day emergency care and improve patient flow in the hospital to help the NHS respond to winter pressures and the risk from further outbreaks of coronavirus.

Projects are to be completed by early next year so hospitals can benefit from the upgrades during the peak of winter.

Cathy Jones, deputy chief executive at Bedfordshire Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to secure £3m in funding to support our long-term plans to enhance urgent and emergency care

services at our Bedford Hospital site.

"We will be working closely with clinical colleagues to transform our facilities to better meet patient needs and cope with the increasing demand these services consistently experience.

"This funding will not only enable us make significant improvements for our patients but will also help us in preparing for the increased challenges that the winter months will bring.”

The Prime Minister will also urge the public to feel confident to visit A&E for the treatment they need, reassuring those who remain concerned of the strict social distancing and hygiene measures that are in place to protect patients. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300 million allocated today for NHS trusts to upgrade their facilities and improve A&E capacity.

“These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver world-leading services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

“It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe.”