Lucy Allan MP has today welcomed the Government's announcement of £5.9 billion in additional funding for the NHS to tackle the backlogs in surgery, cancer care and diagnostics.
Currently some 5.7 million people are waiting for hospital treatment across England.
The additional funding will be raised through the rise in National Insurance announced by the Chancellor and the Health and Social Care Levy this £5.9 billion in new funding is in addition to £12 billion a year announced in September. The new £5.9 billion will be primarily directed towards constructing and maintaining infrastructure and procuring new equipment, allowing for greater expansion of diagnostic and surgical capacity whilst not being absorbed by day-to-day spending.
The money will be spent as follows:
- £2.3 billion on diagnostic testing (MRI, ultrasound and CT).
- £2.1 billion on IT infrastructure and upgrading technology across NHS England.
- £1.5 billion on new equipment, beds and surgical hubs.
Lucy Allan MP said:
"I welcome this extra funding for tackling the backlog announced by the Health Secretary. It is reassuring that the Secretary of State understands the size of the backlog caused by the pandemic, and the scale of the task to tackle it.
This new funding will see waiting times go down and faster treatments with more efficient diagnostics, extra infrastructure and equipment.
Locally, I am determined that this funding is used for its purpose - clearing the backlog of patients needing care. I am concerned that the Trust may seek to use this extra cash to fund the increased cost of the new critical care unit in Shrewsbury. We have to get the basics right first and ensure patients get the care they need. That is what this money is for and that is what it should be used for."
Photo above: Lucy Allan MP with the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid MP
