Welsh Government commits £100m to kickstart NHS and social care recovery from pandemic
Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan has set out plans for a £100 million investment to kickstart the Welsh health and care system’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The money for new equipment, staff, technology and ways of working will help health boards improve services across primary, community and hospital care, by increasing capacity and cutting waiting times as they begin resuming non-emergency care following the pandemic.
The Minister said: “Helping our health and social care services recover from the pandemic is going to take time, investment and a new approach to delivering care.
“The remarkable commitment of our NHS and social care workers has helped us through this pandemic to a point where we can now start to think about the future. I am determined that we now provide them the support they need to help the service recover.”
Eluned also mentioned that there is now a chance to transform Wales’ health and care system so that it is fit for the future, recognising that pandemic has seen the sector rapidly adopt new technology.
“The pandemic saw the early and swift adoption of new technology and ways of working, I want to see health boards build on this good work,” the minister continued. “The Welsh Government is committing an extra £1bn to support our recovery plan. Today I am detailing how an initial £100m will be allocated to our NHS to start this work.”
The initial £100 million investment will be allocated as follows:
- Cardiff and Vale will receive £13 million to increase capacity for a range of therapies and diagnostics, including staff recruitment and two new mobile theatres
- Powys will get £2.5 million to transform patient services and increase capacity for a range of services
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg has been allocated £16 million for recruitment and investment in surgical and diagnostic capacity
- Hywel Dda will get £13 million to improve capacity for planned care, including hospital redesign, investment in diagnostics
- Aneurin Bevan Health will receive £17 million for projects to increased capacity in planned care, diagnostics, therapies and mental health
- Swansea Bay has been given £16 million to increase capacity in a wide range of areas, including theatres, recruitment and ophthalmology
- Betsi Cadwaldr has been allocated £20 million to increase capacity in planned care, cancer, dental, diagnostics and endoscopy
- Velindre will get £2.5 million to increase capacity for radiotherapy