NHS England is planning to allocate £200 million for 10 major projects to upgrade hospitals and help patients receive care in safer, better-equipped facilities.
These include new operation theatres, children’s wards and improved maternity and mental health facilities.
The NHS has also allotted £1.3 billion for maintenance, safety and resilience projects across the NHS estate, including £32m to improve cooling and ventilation systems in hospitals to cope better during summer months.
NHS said that the investment will help hospitals prepare for both winter and extreme summers. It is also aimed to protect the NHS capacity and lessen pressures on the health sector.
The funding is part of a wider programme of more than 950 projects across the NHS, targeting the hospitals and facilities most in need of investment.
The investment will also address ageing infrastructure and critical safety risks across the estate.
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “For decades, hospitals have focused on preparing for winter pressures, but the NHS is now facing new challenges, including periods of extreme heat and sustained pressure on services throughout the year.”
The NHS is also urging eligible members of the public to book their winter flu vaccinations through the national booking system.
