A&ES are safe to use, Johnson insists
BORIS JOHNSON will today urge the public not to be afraid of using A&E as he says it is “vital” for them to get treatment.
People should feel “confident” about going in to receive emergency medical care when they need it, the Prime Minister is expected to say.
Last week it emerged that about three in 10 adults would not feel comfortable attending A&E for urgent care if they needed it. A survey of 1,235 people by the Office for National Statistics showed that a fifth of respondents would feel uncomfortable attending, while 8 per cent said they would feel “very uncomfortable”.
Mr Johnson said last night: “It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe.”
He added: “Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&ES have remained open for the public.”
The Prime Minister will today visit a hospital to announce NHS funding.
In total 117 trusts will receive a share of £300million to upgrade their facilities by the winter, before an expected second wave of the coronavirus. April was the quietest month ever for A&E departments across England, according to NHS England data.
Mr Johnson is expected to reassure those who remain concerned that hospitals have taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including strict social-distancing and hygiene measures.
The £300million has been set aside to enable hospitals to maintain essential services and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.
It comes from a £1.5billion capital building allocation for the health service set out by Mr Johnson in June. The hospitals will be able to use the funding to increase their A&E capacity, with more treatment cubicles and expanded waiting areas to ease overcrowding and improve infection control, Downing Street said last night.
The funding has been allocated to NHS trusts across the country, with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust among those receiving the most sizeable amounts.
The upgrades should be completed by the start of 2021. Hospitals will be able to increase the provision of sameday emergency care, the Government said. Mr Johnson said: “We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300million allocated for NHS trusts to upgrade their facilities and improve A&E capacity.
“These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver essential services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.”
Last month Mr Johnson also confirmed £3billion in extra funding for the NHS in England to get it “battle ready” for the winter. Some of the money will be used to keep Nightingale hospitals open until March 2021, to continue the use of private hospital capacity and to expand the flu vaccination programme this winter.