Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced £140m for urgent care in England to boost capacity amid warnings of a severe flu season and high A&E demand.
01Summary
- 01Yvette Cooper pledged £140m for 14 schemes, including new urgent care centres, ambulance fleets, and A&E upgrades.
- 02Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E between June and August, the highest summer figure on record.
- 03NHS medical director Prof Frankie Swords reported flu admissions at the highest level she recalls for this time of year.
- 04The Royal College of Nursing called the funding a 'sticking plaster', urging long-term workforce investment.
- 05The NHS has been preparing since July for winter pressures, including seasonal flu and Covid cases.
02Why it matters
This matters because the NHS faces a particularly tough winter with early flu and high A&E demand; the funding aims to reduce pressure on emergency services, but critics say it is insufficient without addressing staff shortages.
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