ROYAL Bolton Hospital will receive a £600,000 funding boost from the Government in a bid to help ease pressure on its A&E department this winter.

The investment was announced by the Department of Health, and is part of £55.98 million of a total £100 million A&E capital funding outlined in the spring budget by the Chancellor Philip Hammond, to ease pressure on emergency departments in time for winter to prevent the departments reaching crisis point.

Royal Bolton Foundation Trust is one of 70 hospitals and NHS trusts to be awarded a slice of the funding.

It will be used by hospitals to meet the 95 per cent standard of admitting, transferring, or discharging patients within four hours by ensuring patients are treated in the most appropriate setting.

The plans outlined by trusts include locating GP practices within A&E departments.

Cllr Linda Thomas, deputy leader of Bolton Council, said: “Funding pressures on the health and care system overall are well documented, so capital for A&E is vital.

“Our Bolton Health Plan already includes GPs in A&E which obviously requires additional resources.

“It is important to remember though that all parts of the system are under duress and the only real answer to preventing an A&E winter pressure situation all year round is long term sustainable funding for social care.

“This will help support people to live longer and more independently in their own homes through our integrated health and social care in the community. This should be a priority discussion for the General Election.

“I hope there is great scrutiny by the voters on this key issue and they are not deflected into believing one-off capital sums have solved the care crisis, far from it.”

Chris Green MP said: “I’m delighted that the Government is giving Royal Bolton Foundation Trust £600,000 for the A&E department next winter. The reason the Government is in this position to give the extra funding is because of the continuous economic recovery.”