The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the QEQM in Margate to benefit from share of £150m A&E upgrades ahead of winter spike
06:00, 17 September 2020
Two hospitals in Kent are set to benefit from a share of £150million to upgrade A&E facilities in time for winter.
The William Harvey in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) in Margate will receive the funding from the government as part of its plans to reduce overcrowding and improve infection control before the cold weather sets in.
East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust which runs both sites is one of four in the South East, and 25 across the UK, to receive a cut of the money.
Some £3m has been allocated to The William Harvey in Kennington Road which will be put towards an expansion of the emergency department and increasing same day care.
The QEQM in Ramsgate Road will get £4m which will be spent on re-modelling the existing space to make room for more clinical treatment areas.
It also hopes to extend major trauma cubicles for adults and children to improve patient flow.
The projects are due to be completed by the start of next year.
The investment comes as part of the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock's plan to help hospitals cope over the coming months with the added pressures of Covid-19.
The additional £150m takes the government's total spending on hospital upgrades across England to £450m this winter.
