Department of Health and Social Care
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100's more health projects to boost NHS at local level
People across the country will benefit from hundreds of new health services over the next twelve months Patricia Hewitt said today.
This year, the NHS is benefitting from an extra £8bn. This investment will see an extra 400,000 new patients seen in outpatients and an extra 390,000 operations, help cut waiting times even further, tackle hospital infections and deliver more personalised care to vulnerable people with long term conditions.
Details about what the investment will deliver are outlined in a new report 'Local Spending for Local Needs' published today. It catalogues schemes being taken forward across the country and coincides with local plans published by Strategic Health Authorities.
New schemes being delivered across the country include:
A new £8 million health centre in Newcastle bringing improved health facilities to the east of the city.
The re-development of Westhaven Hospital in Weymouth providing purpose-built accommodation for therapy services and the community rehabilitation team and increased inpatient facilities.
Investing £50,000 in the Plymouth area on rapid testing for infections such as MRSA and Norovirus.
A £1m virtual community ward project in Croydon to support people with long term conditions.
A £3.2million renal unit at Doncaster Royal Infirmary offering in patient and out patient services
New ready-made operating theatres for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, adding capacity to deliver lower waiting times
New GP services in Barking and Dagenham to improve provision and access in an undoctored area
Patricia Hewitt said:
"The NHS is facing an historic opportunity and this year we are spending over £8bn more on health services than last year.
"This investment will see an extra 400,000 new patients seen in outpatients and an extra 390,000 operations, help cut waiting times even further, tackle hospital infections and deliver more personalised care to vulnerable people with long term conditions.
"A lot of people like to knock the NHS and say all the money has gone on deficits. It hasn't. The NHS is now back in balance and delivering improvements in health outcomes, the lowest waits on record, as well as providing a level of care that ten years ago was only offered to those who could afford it.
"We are facing a new era of health provision - a health service that is on a stable and sustainable financial footing, more responsive to patient needs and delivering choices we all expect in a modern society.
"Local plans show that the NHS, right across the country, will be driving forward this year with hundreds of initiatives focussed on benefits for the local community and NHS patients.
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Notes to editors
1. The report 'Local Spending for Local Needs' including examples of regional delivery can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk
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