In an effort to prepare for winter demand for health care, the Department for Health is distributing additional funds to commissioning groups to support A&E departments.
A first tranche of £250 million was distributed to groups using A&E departments considered under greatest risk of breaching targets .South Reading and Berkshire West (using A&E at the Royal Berks Hospital) were not included in this group. A second tranche of £150 million is being distributed to 157 further CCGs to support winter emergencies.
The four CCGs of the Berkshire West federation (South Reading, North and West Reading, Newbury and Wokingham), receive together £1.6 million pounds in winter pressure funding.
According to NHS England this money may be used to support additional capacity in the A&E department (this would be the Royal Berks A&E for us) or to enhance other services which would help patients stay away from A&E.