£100m cash injection for NHS

Patients across the country will benefit as the NHS receives a cash injection of up to £100 million to boost services in their communities, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced.

The Department of Health is providing up to £100 million in additional funding to doctors in emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to improve local services and reduce pressures on the NHS during the colder months.

Clinicians in these groups will spend the money directly on local care services that best meet their patients’ clinical needs and prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital. For example, prospective Clinical Commissioning Groups could use the funding to:
• provide more effective cover for urgent care services
• improve out of hours services for patients
• improve local arrangements with nursing homes
• extend GP practice opening times

This is the first time these prospective clinical groups have been given money to spend on patient services. They will have £2 per head of population made available to them via their Primary Care Trust (PCT) cluster to spend this financial year.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “I am pleased to be able to give the NHS up to £100 million in extra funding to spend directly on local frontline care for their patients during the winter months.

“This is the first time emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups – made up of GPs and other local clinical professionals – have been given money to spend on services for patients. This additional funding, available due to good management of the Department’s central budgets, will harness the expertise of local clinicians who know better than anyone, what their patients need.

“Moving decision-making closer to patients will mean ‘no decision about me without me’ and ensures that patients receive the right care according to their individual needs. This more effective and efficient way of working will see savings reinvested in front line NHS care.”