Cornwall’s NHS is to benefit from a £1.8million share of a Government fund to upgrade and refurbish hospitals.
The Health Secretary has announced that hospital staff, patients and visitors in hospitals in Cornwall will benefit from refurbished wards, brand new electrics and upgraded ventilation systems.
The Government has announced allocations of £600 million to tackle critical maintenance work in hospitals across England.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will receive £1,726,000 and £102,000 respectively to carry out the work, which could include building new or refurbishing buildings to deliver key services, upgrades to electrical infrastructure, improvements to ventilation systems, works to improve fire safety and the replacement of hospital lifts. The work will be completed by March 2021.
The money is part of a £1.5 billion announced by the Prime Minister in the summer to level up hospital infrastructure across the NHS. While £600 million will be spent on these critical maintenance upgrades, the remainder will be spent on modernising mental health facilities, expanding A&E capacity and improving infection control ahead of winter.
Commenting, Mid-Cornwall MP and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Double said:
“I am delighted to see both the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust benefitting from this Government funding to carry out vital maintenance work over the coming months.”
“These crucial projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to patients, helping our NHS to build back better after the pandemic.”
“I look forward to seeing the details of how this funding will be spent to improve facilities for patients in Cornwall and seeing these projects completed in the new year.”
Also commenting, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“Alongside delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals and 20 major hospital upgrades across the country, this investment will help our NHS build back better.”
“These crucial maintenance projects will deliver immediate benefits and provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients this winter, helping ensure the NHS is always there for you when you need it.”