Health Minister Andy Burnham today announced details of £382 million of capital funding for primary care trusts (PCTs) for the next financial year.
This money represents a 30% increase on the allocation last year and will be welcomed by the NHS, who can use the extra cash to acquire and modernise buildings, equipment and land.
The money is split into three separate pots:
– £167 million allocated directly to PCTs as operational capital to be used to maintain and modernise their building stocks and replace equipment.
– £156 million for strategic capital for PCTs to use to fund new equipment and buildings.
– £60 million to modernise dental premises and equipment.
Decisions about how best to invest this funding will be taken by local NHS organisations that understand the needs of local people.
Minister for Delivery and Reform Andy Burnham said:
“This funding will mean that patients will have better facilities and access to more sophisticated equipment, which will benefit the community for years to come.
“By allowing the local NHS to distribute the money, we are ensuring that the needs of patients are put first. It will also help continue the work of the white paper to bring care closer to home by building new facilities in the heart of the community.
“We are making huge changes to the NHS, reforming the system and providing more convenient care, closer to patients’ homes. At the same time, it’s important that we continue to provide the funding to modernise NHS buildings and equipment, for the benefit of patients in the long term, as well as the short term. Investment in buildings and equipment is investment in the future of the NHS.”
This money is in addition to the £750 million over five years that was announced last year for new community hospitals.
