Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust will receive £4.1m to create extra emergency care capacity to manage winter pressures as part of a £300m Government funding boost.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement earlier this week that 117 trusts would be allocated cash to upgrade Accident and Emergency and associated emergency care facilities to help the NHS prepare for winter and the risk of further outbreaks of Covid-19.

In Walsall, the funding will enable:

• Additional Emergency Department cubicle capacity to help rapid handover of patients arriving by ambulance in the Emergency Department
• Additional Surgical Ambulatory Care Unit capacity to enhance same day Emergency Care in Surgery
• Additional assessment unit capacity to ensure timely admission for patients needing admission from the Emergency Department
• Additional Emergency Department waiting space to promote social distancing

Ned Hobbs, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Chief Operating Officer said: “The trust has been working hard to prepare a robust plan to steer it through the pressures that are experienced during the winter months and a potential second surge of Covid patients, and this extra funding is a very welcome addition to these arrangements.

“The £4.1 million will primarily be used to create extra capacity in our Emergency Department and our assessment unit and ambulatory care facilities, as we work to ensure our patients are seen and treated in as timely a manner as possible. We will also create additional waiting space to ensure we adhere to social distancing and infection prevention guidance.

“We would also echo the Prime Minister’s comments urging the public to feel confident to visit ED. We want to reassure our Walsall residents that their safety, health and wellbeing is our priority and they must ask us for help when they need it – we are here for them 24/7.”

Projects will be completed by the start of 2021.