As we head into winter, NHS services are once again being stretched.
Hospitals, surgeries, and pharmacies are doing a tremendous job keeping services running while delivering booster vaccines and coping with rising Covid cases.
I’m pleased the Government is putting even more funding into NHS to help cope with these pressures, including an additional £64.7 million for Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group.
This will help improve peoples’ experience of local NHS services in Faversham and Mid Kent with £24 million allocated to East Kent and £18 million allocated to Medway and Swale.
The extra funding will help the NHS manage increased demand for urgent care services through the winter and build capacity within elective services to reduce the backlog of long waits caused by the pandemic.
There are over 150 different projects that are being funded – from new MRI scanners to theatre refurbishments, additional beds, additional staffing, and community and home care service improvements.
Thanks to our Autumn Budget, spending on health services will increase to over £177 billion by the end of this Parliament – an increase of over £44 billion from 2019 levels.
Everyone can do their bit to help this NHS this winter by taking up the offer of getting a booster jab and following the latest guidance.
Together, we will once again protect our NHS and save lives.
