Worcestershire’s NHS is set to get nearly £4 million of extra cash to fund improved services across the county. The funds, which were confirmed in the Budget, last month, will see an extra £1.3 million allocated to the county hospitals to help with extra winter pressures and further £2.6 million to help the county health providers including local GPs and social care providers. The news was welcomed by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who has help a series of meetings with the Department of Health to press for financial support as the Worcestershire NHS Acute Trust works towards coming out of special measures. The Trust has already carried out a number of measures to prepare for winter pressures including setting up a dedicated unit for frail people and a new unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital to help reduce the number of people waiting on trolleys. The extra money will come as a huge boost for staff who have to face a spike in demand over the winter period. The Government has also approved a £29 million bid to create extra capacity at the Worcester hospital and improve wards and operating theatres. The extra £4 million will further help the local health economy by helping them to increase temporary bed capacity across the county during winter peak pressures as well as supporting measures to help more people stay out of hospital and receive treatment at a community hospital and local GP surgery or at home. Harriett commented: “I recently met with the local Acute Trust management team to discuss what steps it was taking to prepare for winter pressures and to tour the new unit which will add a little extra capacity at the Worcester hospital. “The message is clear that a lot can be achieved by making better use of space and by adding areas where people can be seen without the need to admit every patient. The £29 million will go a long way towards helping to deliver significant improvements and help staff to give the best possible care for us and our loved ones. “This new money, confirmed by the Department of Health, will allow the local management team to look at innovative solutions and plan better for the inevitable winter peak. “I’m also keen to share the message that we can all help our local NHS by only using A&E when the need really is urgent and instead use GP surgeries or our local community hospitals where at all possible.”