The government has announced that hospitals across the country will benefit from a share of £700 million to expand wards, install modular operating theatres, upgrade outpatient spaces and MRI and screening technology, to help reduce waiting lists.
As part of this funding, £5.9 million has been approved for Bedford Hospital to create 20 flexible multi-purpose outpatient rooms.
The full policy paper, which is a joint publication between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England and Improvement, sets out the wide range of preparations to ensure that health and social care services remain resilient, joined up and available to patients over the coming months and can be read here.
Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire, said: “I welcome the additional funding of £5.9 million for Bedford Hospital as part of the £700 million investment in hospitals this winter to help more people get treated over the coming months by upgrading wards, operating theatres and diagnostic kit.
“With the roll-out and acceleration of COVID-19 boosters alongside the largest flu vaccine programme in UK history, we are doing more than ever to support people to stay well this winter.”