The funding boost news came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the hospital with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock and Boston MP Matt Warman. They met with patients and staff, including new Chief Executive Andrew Morgan, as they toured the site including the emergency department.
They heard how the money will help with a move towards defined urgent and emergency ‘care zones’ in an attempt to improve patient wait times and the flow of patients in and out of the department. This will allow patients needing emergency treatment to be seen and treated quicker.
The investment was announced by the Department of Health this week as part of a capital funding increase for hospitals across the country to go towards improving the experience of patients in emergency departments.
Matt Hancock MP said: “Today we are announcing funding for a new expanded A&E facility at the Pilgrim hospital. My grandmother worked at Pilgrim on night shifts all of her working life as a nurse and it is fantastic to be able to put £20million extra into making sure the A&E in Boston is the best it can possibly be to improve patient flow and to reduce waiting times.”
Chief Executive for ULHT, Andrew Morgan, said: “We are delighted that Pilgrim hospital has been awarded this new funding.
“We are continuously working to improve our busy emergency departments and this investment will allow us to make changes we’ve not previously been able to, in turn relieving pressure across our hospital site.
“These improvements to the department mean we will be able to direct patients when they arrive, so they can receive the most appropriate care.
“We hope that this development will help us to see and treat patients more quickly and ensure that everyone is getting the right level of care that they require.”