NHS Warrington given £300m budget (From Warrington Guardian)

NHS Warrington given £300m budget

4:00pm Sunday 7th February 2010 in

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NHS Warrington has received Government funding of more than £306m to set out its priorities for the next year.

The total, £306.6m, will go towards the PCT’s operating framework for 2010/11 and is almost 11 per cent higher than the £290.6m granted in 2009/10.

National priorities for the NHS Operating Framework include improved cleanliness and infection reduction, improving access through an 18-week referral to treatment pledge, improving access to GP services, keeping adults and children well, improving patient experience and staff satisfaction and preparing to respond to emergencies such as a pandemic outbreak.

Sarah Baker, NHS Warrington’s director of strategy and innovation, said: “Our excellent performance in reducing rates of health care acquired infection will be further improved upon through working with the public and clinicians to maintain high levels of infection control.

“We deliver on the national 18-week waiting times for patients and plan to work on strategies to sustain these. NHS Warrington has introduced extended opening hours in 76 per cent of GP practices, during 2010 we will work with remaining surgeries.”

Preventing ill health and reducing health inequalities are a key part of the plans and a health checks programme will ensure those most at risk of chronic disease get care.

Bosses say Warrington has worked with national and regional bodies to ensure pandemic flu plans are robust and reviewing its major incident plan to boost emergency responses.