The Government has published a major plan to improve urgent and emergency care services, as we deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority to cut waiting times.
The NHS is facing serious challenges as a result of the Covid pandemic and the worst flu season for over a decade. We saw the highest ever number of people attending A&E in December, which combined with high hospital occupancy rates means some patients are facing unacceptable delays.
We are already working to tackle waiting lists by:
- 📈 Raising health and social care funding to record levels
- 🏥 Investing over £750 million this year to speed up the discharge of medically fit patients
- 📉 Delivering on our elective recovery plan to bust the Covid backlogs,
- 👩⚕️ Hiring a record number of doctors and nurses.
The Government is launching its Urgent and Emergency Care Plan to fix A&E and ambulance waiting times over the next two years by:
- 🚑 Increasing capacity with £1 billion for more beds and ambulances; supported by more staff.
- 🩺Reducing pressure on hospitals by speeding up discharge
- 🩻 Expanding new, innovative measures to treat patients safely in the community; and enhancing the role of NHS 111.
- 🚨 Improving local A&E services by sharing and promoting best practice, so no matter where you live, you can get the care you need.
