Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O’Brien has welcomed the announcement that Glenfield Hospital will get two new wards providing 56 new beds thanks to a government investment of £24 million. Neil, who also serves as a health minister, said the investment will help to cut waiting lists and increase capacity at the hospital.
This is part of a £250 million investment that will deliver 900 new hospital beds across England to help treat patients more quickly this winter. This funding has been awarded to NHS trusts to relieve pressures and help cut waiting times.
This investment is part of the NHS Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan, published in January, which set out plans to provide over 5,000 additional permanent, fully staffed hospital beds in total, with the NHS on track to deliver this by winter. The new 56 beds at Glenfield are part of this commitment.
These measures will support the NHS’s recovery from the pandemic, and ensure that patients receive the care they need, when they need it. Alongside this, the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan will put the NHS on a sustainable footing by delivering the biggest training expansion in NHS history and recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years.
Commenting, Neil said: “Winter is often a challenging time for the NHS, so this investment will allow health services locally to get ahead of pressures whilst also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. The 56 additional beds will increase hospital capacity locally and help cut waiting lists.
“Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times - one of the government’s top five priorities.
“Both as a local MP and a health minister I often hear from patients who have had to wait for lengthy periods for the care they need. These 56 new beds will make a real difference for those who require hospital care in Harborough, Oadby and Wigston.”
