Two huge cash boosts for the NHS locally

The trust have put together proposals which I have been fully supporting and pushing with my colleagues in Whitehall.

The first of the money awarded was between £20m. to £25m. which is the first local price modification of its kind.

This money has been awarded by monitor and takes into consideration the trust’s unique geography and population size and allows them to apply each year to change the way they are paid for services which then places the trust in a much healthier financial position.

Back in 2011, when Andrew Lansley was Secretary of State for Health, the unique nature of the trust was identified and I am pleased that, after the hard work of the finance teams and after my constant raising of this issue with Jeremy Hunt, the money has finally been awarded.

Another positive announcement was also made by the NHS Vanguards team who have awarded the Better Care Together team £9.9m. to start to implement their plan for integrated care in hospital and in the community.

Better Care Together is a brilliant idea which is designed to make care more localised and mean that hospital is only needed in an emergency and improves community care. I am pleased to see this proposal is now able to be implemented more fully after this injection of funding.

This shows the national commitment to the plan our local health providers have put together and means the trust is moving in an ever positive direction.

It also proved that having a positive attitude and ensuring central Government get to hear about the successes of the trust and not believing the fictitious myths peddled out at the last election mean patient care in this area can excel.

These announcements are testament to the hard work of our fantastic NHS staff locally.

If you would like to contact me you can do so by telephone on 01524 841225 or at [email protected].