Richard Benyon MP today welcomed the Government’s multi-million pound investment in the Royal Berkshire Hospital this winter, as it emerged that £1,715,000 had been granted an additional funding to help cope with winter pressures.
Royal Berkshire Hospital and the wider health system has prepared earlier and more extensively than ever before for winter this year, with a focus on securing the right numbers of doctors and nurses, increasing bed availability, and making sure there is strong social care and community care support available to help discharge patients from hospital quickly.
The extra funding granted to the Royal Berks is the equivalent of 40 annual nurse salaries, and was announced as part of a £337m immediate funding boost for NHS hospitals this winter in the recent Budget, in addition to an extra £2.8bn investment over the next two years.
Commenting, Richard Benyon said: ‘This is great news for West Berkshire patients and residents. We all want to know the NHS is there for us and our families whenever we need it, so I’m pleased the Government is giving the NHS extra support at this critical time of year, when cold weather and flu can increase the pressures on hard-working hospital staff.’