Investing in Our NHS

I come from a medical family and am married to a doctor, our NHS staff do incredible work. It is our most precious public service and I passionately support the NHS and what a year its been.

I campaigned to have a medical school at here in Chelmsford at Anglia Ruskin University. It opened in September 2018, and more students are studying to become doctors, nurses and paramedics than ever before.  

In September 2021, the government announced:

  • Additional £5.4 billion cash injection to NHS to support COVID-19 response over next 6 months

  • Includes £1 billion to help tackle COVID-19 backlogs, delivering routine surgery and treatments for patients

  • Total government support for health services in response to COVID-19 at over £34 billion this year alone

The NHS will receive an extra £5.4 billion over the  six months from September to support its response to COVID-19 and help tackle waiting lists, the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid have announced today.

The funding will immediately go towards supporting the NHS to manage the immediate pressures of the pandemic. This includes an extra £1 billion to help tackle the COVID-19 backlog, £2.8 billion to cover related costs such as enhanced infection control measures to keep staff and patients safe from the virus and £478 million to continue the hospital discharge programme, freeing up beds.

The additional £5.4 billion brings the government’s total investment to health services for COVID-19 so far this year to over £34 billion, with £2 billion in total for the NHS to tackle the elective backlog.

Here are the full details: Additional £5.4 billion for NHS COVID-19 response over next 6 months - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

News

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

This week parliament has been “prorogued”.   During the prorogation MPs do not meet for debates or questions in the House of Commons.   This is so that Ministers and civil servants have time to prepare for the next State Opening of Parliament and, importantly, time for them to complete work on th

Moulsham Times Article February 2022

Cases of covid are dropping and the massive vaccination efforts have made such a huge difference.  I recently visited one of the GPs surgeries caring for Moulsham residents and spoke to the team.  Due to long waiting lists for patients who need non urgent hospital treatment and surgery, many of t

Beaulieu and Channel Jan/Feb 2022

I am pleased to start the New Year with some good news on the new Medical Centre at Beaulieu Park.  I have seen for myself the pressures that GP surgeries are under at the moment.  Delivering the new medical centre will bring knock-on benefits right across Chelmsford.  Its opening will increase c

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Wednesday 5th January  MPs return to Westminster after the Christmas break. The streets are empty of traffic as many people are working from home, but there is a huge sense of relief that we are not in another full lockdown and that people have been able to catch up with family and friends over t

Treatment for PKU

A bit of good news - I will never forget the dad who walked into one of my first constituency surgeries when I became MP for Chelmsford. He told be about a condition called PKU and the impact it was having on his young daughter.

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Monday 6th December  A busy day in the Foreign Office, with many African Countries now on the travel red list due to the new Omicron variant I have postponed my travel for this week. I spend the day on calls with ministers from other governments. 

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Monday 22nd November  MPs are debating amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill. This will protect individuals and families against unpredictable and potentially catastrophic care costs.

Article for Smile Magazine - Hospital Radio

Recently,  I was able to visit Broomfield Hospital and see the new Chemotherapy Unit.   This has been designed with great care by a specialist architect who worked alongside staff and patients.  Cancer patients who are being treated with chemotherapy spend many hours in the hospital, often all da

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Monday 19th April  Two more weeks of Parliament before we prorogue for the Queen’s Speech which is due to happen soon after the local elections. It’s a busy time with lots of legislation needing to be passed, not least the Finance Bill which is crucial to making sure that all the spending announc

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Monday 22nd March  I head off towards London for the last week of the Parliamentary term before the Easter recess. It is now a year since I have been a Minister, I have learnt that the last week of each term is always busy with lots of decisions to be made before Parliament rises.