HEREFORD County Hospital is set to receive a £2million boost from the Government to upgrade A&E facilities ahead of what's expected to be another busy winter period.

On Tuesday (August 11), Prime Minister Boris Johnson will confirm Wye Valley as one of the 117 NHS Trust to get a cut of £300million help prepare to prepare for winter and the risk from further outbreaks of coronavirus

In the announcement, Mr Johnson will also urge the public to feel confident to visit A&E for the treatment they need.

Wye Valley NHS Trust could use its £2million to expand waiting areas and increase the number of treatment cubicles to boost A&E capacity, reduce overcrowding and improve infection control measures.

Hospitals could also increase the provision of same day emergency care and improve patient flow in the hospital to help the NHS respond to winter pressures and the risk from further outbreaks of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300 million allocated today 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.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

“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.”

Projects will be completed by the start of next year so hospitals benefit from the upgrades during the peak of winter. Last year the PM also confirmed 20 hospitals will receive a share of £850 million to upgrade outdated facilities and equipment.

Wye Valley NHS Trust also received a cut of that funding, announced on August 5, 2019. The £23.6million went towards 72 new beds at Hereford County Hospital.

Ahead of Tuesday's announcement, health minister Edward Argar added: “Our NHS did an amazing job to ensure emergency care continued to be available for everyone who needed it during the peak of this pandemic.

“Today, we are announcing the details of the Trusts across the country who will receive a share of £300 million to upgrade their A&Es and support emergency care to help them to continue to deliver safe and accessible services throughout the normally busy winter period.

“This funding is part of our record investment in NHS infrastructure to ensure our health services continue to meet the needs of the present and to be fit for future demands placed upon it.”

The funding forms part of an extra £1.5billion capital funding announced by the PM.

Last month he confirmed an additional £3 billion of funding to the NHS in England to get ready for winter. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also receive additional funds.

It's said this will allow the NHS to continue to use the extra hospital capacity acquired from the independent sector, maintain the Nightingale hospitals until the end of March and expand their flu vaccination programme.