Health secretary Steve Barclay speaking in the Commons yesterday (Picture: Getty)
Conditions on emergency wards have been unacceptable for weeks, the health secretary admitted yesterday as he outlined plans to free up bed space.
Steve Barclay vowed immediate action to reduce pressure, including A&E temporary buildings that could be built in hospital car parks and 7,000 beds in ‘virtual wards’ that would allow patients to be treated at home.
It came after he announced £200million to block-book care home beds for patients who were fit enough to leave hospital but needed social care.
‘I regret the experience for some patients and staff in emergency care has not been acceptable in recent weeks,’ he told MPs. He blamed the strain on the scale of the flu season combined with high levels of patients admitted to hospital with Covid.
Mr Barclay said the extra capacity ‘will be available in weeks not months’.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the moves proposed were ‘too little, too late’ (Picture: PA)
Pharmacists would be expected to offer more services and patients would be given more opportunities to access free treatment in the private sector.
But his Labour shadow Wes Streeting said the moves were ‘too little, too late’ calling the measures ‘yet another sticking plaster when the NHS needs fundamental reform’.
Scaled-down energy help scheme unveiled
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a slash in help for businesses (Picture: Getty)
Businesses will receive less support towards their energy bills from April.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will provide £5.5billion in the next financial year, compared with the £18billion that was set aside to help firms through the winter.
A pub will be eligible for about £190 per month – down from £3,100 – if it uses 16MWh of gas and 4MWh of electricity.
And firms that pay less than £107 for gas and £302 for electricity will be excluded. The current scheme was ‘intended as a bridge’, the treasury said.
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Mr Barclay said the extra capacity ‘will be available in weeks not months’.
