The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is to receive an additional £48million from the Government to help redesign acute services for Island residents, it has been announced tonight (Sunday).
Earlier today it was revealed by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson that 20 hospitals across the country will share £850million of new funding to upgrade outdated facilities and equipment – helping to improve patient care and ultimately save more lives.
Now, it has been revealed that the Isle of Wight will benefit from the new funding to the tune of £48million. Although it is known the money will be used to redesign acute services, it is unclear at this stage what exactly that means for Islanders moving forward.
The Prime Minister has also confirmed a £1billion boost to NHS capital spending, allowing existing upgrade programmes to proceed and tackling the most urgent infrastructure projects. Later this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock will also set out further changes to the NHS pension scheme to support senior doctors and GPs taking on extra shifts.
Speaking about the funding for the Isle of Wight, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said:
“The staff at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust work incredibly hard and already have a proud record of championing acute care – from investing in a new helipad for the Trauma Unit, to refurbishing the Emergency Department.
“So I’m pleased to announce a £48 million boost for the hospital today – so they can upgrade front line services and make sure even more patients get the best care possible.”
Bob Seely says he is delighted with this investment. The Isle of Wight MP has tonight said:
”Thank you to Maggie Oldham, Vaughn Thomas and the NHS’s leadership team on the Island. This is a major boost for the NHS on the Isle of Wight. I want to thank the NHS staff on the Island for the work that they do.
“When I became the Island’s MP, I said I would make sure that Gov’t listens to us more. I am delighted that this Government is beginning to do so. There is more to be done but this is more good news for the Island.”
A spokesperson for Isle of Wight NHS Trust said:
“This is fantastic news for our local NHS, for the people we look after and the people that work so hard supporting our community.
“We welcome this much-needed investment and will be working with our partners on the Island and across the Solent to make sure that we get the maximum value for our patients.”
Today’s announcement delivers on the Prime Minister’s pledge when entering Downing Street to urgently upgrade 20 hospitals, and ensure money invested in the NHS is reaching the frontline as soon as possible.
A further statement from the IOW NHS Trust is expected on Monday.
How about doing something for the mental health service on the Island? A wonderful lady I know who has MS, asked about counselling and was told …..If we gave it to you we would have to give to everyone with MS………And don’t get me started on children’s mental health care either. Non existent? Well almost, very hard to get.
It’s great news but being someone e who has worked there for over 20 years, this money will be wasted on managers, meetings, executives to the expense of frontline staff
Totally agree with you there are more chiefs than Indians as the saying goes
I agree. It’s not just money that’s the problem. Friends who work there, long serving, are horribly unhappy. One is a nurse and was telling me at the weekend that she hates her job, dreads going to work as it is an awful place. The managers simply don’t care if their staff are struggling. And they have just brought 60 new Philippino nurses into that atmosphere!
Will this mean fewer trips to mainland for treatment?
No, it will mean more.
“Redesign” almost certainly refers to the existing plan to shift most services to the mainland.
If that is the case I’m not sure if this could even be called new money.
Perhaps Bob Seely could clarify for us.
Bournemouth, Poole & Salisbury all send there patients to Southampton .. for further treatment .. by specialists.. it not new my friend !
The report talks about the money being used to “redesign” acute services.
In other words, just like the helipad that Boris is so proud of, it will be used to transfer even more patients and services to mainland hospitals.
Moan ,moan ,moan ,moan !
Give it a break! We are £48 million better off than we were last week so it seems, Is somebody going to celebrate
I’ve had 20 years plus of watching money wasted. The management structure, consulting companies and non-clinical expenses has become a running joke. I defy you to wait 5 years to see if after this influx of money improves it. I bet the only staff increases will be management or clerical. As someone who works frontline at the sharp end through holidays, nights, weekends, I’m yet to be convinced. You see none of these people out of hours or during public holidays, even when it’s at critical levels.
I know of many people who have had to travel to the mainland for cancer care, I’m also aware of the extra stress this puts on them at vulnerable time. How about they converting the office suits back to being a wards, then bring cancer care to the island, As for the admin, with new tech with maybe a few exceptions they could be anywhere on the island. And while on my wish list how about enacting the plans for a new eye dept they do wanders in the present one “I know” but an new one would function better for patients and staff…And to use the old saying it would give work to the island economy during its building .
Good for Bo-Jo.
We best vote for him, seems a good egg.
Dont know why people moan about going to mainland its safer over there they saves lives and know what their doing. Wished my sis had gone straight to southampton she might still be here
Sorry to hear that. My father also died because St Marys did nothing about his life threatening condition when they found it.
I take your point and clearly have sympathy for your loss but also feel that going to the mainland is not a trivial thing – it involves a lot of time trouble and expense. It also has the potential to put relatives under additional stress at a difficult time.
My father has been in hospital for the last two weeks and may be there for two more. Because he lives in Bristol my mother is able to visit every day, sometimes twice a day which is critical to keeping up his morale. As a pensioner she would struggle to be able to afford to do that if a ferry crossing were involved.
I accept that upgrading St. Mary’s may not be realistic but am concerned that the practicalities of crossing the Solent are being overlooked or just plain ignored.
And £40million will be spent on consultancy fees on how to best spend the money and the other £7million trying to get the koan artwork that sits outside working again?
Riddle me this communists. Where’s all this money coming from? Hmmm?
moan moan moan cant anyone say something positive for a change the money will do some good at least we did not have this before so I say good on you Boris
All some of you do is moan! When there are cuts you mean, when near on £50m is put in you moan.. Jeezaloo! Get a grip!
*moan
This ie excellent news for IW nhs. let’s hope the money ALL goes to the hospital and on anymore eyesores like The Cone.
This money is indeed very good news – nobody should disagree with that. It will prove to be good news as long as it not spent on “Administration” Hopefully it will be used to improve existing services and provide new staff. It must be a long time since an opportunity like this has arisen.
The hospital could certainly do with the money especially in the A&E even for the basics like blankets etc. I had the misfortune to have been in there a few months ago and I was told there were no blankets to be had, I was freezing especially being placed by the doors where the Ambulances are. Also I feel more Auxiliary nurses are needed to make sure patients are getting the basic care like making sure all patients are comfortable and have plenty of water to drink. Help patients with feeding where needed. All these types of basic needs needs to be addressed. The money needs to be spent wisely.
Also there seems to be no after care for when patients are sent home, bring back community nurses I say.
I personally think the money needs to be spent on the ground floor before things start to improve. Also I would like to see more nurses as there are not enough to care for the amount of patients. I think if they were to have a boost from the government to give them more money in there pay packet it would be a different scenario. We have lots of fully trained nurses but with what they receive is not worth it for the invaluable work they do. They are certainly worth there weight in gold. St Mary’s hospital is the only main hospital on the Island and hope it will bring comfort, reassurance, dignity and respect for all.
I have just come home after having now had a knee replacement, and I must say the care I had from the nurses all staff and surgeon have been outstanding in my view. Long may the care that they are able to give continue.