A SEVEN figure funding boost to hospitals across north Hampshire to help them cope with increased pressures in the winter months has been welcomed by a MPs.

The government has granted £4.06 million to the Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke hospital, Andover War Memorial hospital and Royal Hampshire County hospital, in Winchester.

The funding will enable the NHS to deliver additional beds, redevelop A&E units and upgrade wards, enhance bed management systems, and improve ‘same-day’ emergency care across the three hospitals.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals , said: “We are delighted to have been allocated this money by the Department of Health and Social Care.

“We are in the process of finalising which projects will benefit directly, but we have plans to increase capacity in our emergency departments and assessment units, which will improve the flow of patients throughout our hospitals.”

These additional funds from the government have been welcomed by North East Hampshire MP, Ranil Jayawardena, who said this will ensure people have access to the “the best care in the world.”

Mr Jayawardena said: “It is good news that HM Government has risen to the challenge and is acting early to provide our local NHS with over £4 million more to make preparations and make sure our local hospitals can cope this winter.

“The truth is that it’s because we have a strong economy that we can afford a strong NHS. This additional funding for better equipment and extra care is yet another win for north east Hampshire and beyond.”

The funding comes as part of wider allocations by the Department for Health and Social Care to help hospitals to deliver improvements in their A&E performance ahead of winter. The secretary of state for health and social care Matt Hancock MP, announced a total of 81 new schemes, totalling £145 million of capital investment.

In July, the government provided £36.3 million to ambulance trusts to prepare for winter.

This money will pay for 256 new ambulances as well as ‘make ready’ hubs at ambulance trust headquarters to allow better restocking and maintenance of vehicles.

Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller also welcomed the funds adding it will help increase capacity at Basingstoke hospitals emergency department.

Mrs Miller added: “I am very pleased that the NHS has identified a scheme to help with the pressures which we know the hospital will face.

“I look forward to hearing further detail about how they intend to use the extra government funding to help them deliver the best possible care for patients this winter.”

The funds will also help with surgical assessment unit and paediatric assessment unit.

Mr Jayawardena added: “I’m committed to the success of our local NHS and that local people should have access to excellent services.

“Our dedicated doctors and nurses provide some of the best care in the world, but we all know that, as we approach winter, the cold weather takes its toll and it’s always the busiest time of year.

“It is good news that HM Government has risen to the challenge and is acting early to provide our local NHS with over £4 million more to make preparations and make sure our local hospitals can cope this winter.”

More details of are set to be released by the trust in the coming week.