THE accident and emergency department at Arrowe Park Hospital has been awarded Government funding for an upgrade of facilities ahead of winter.

It is among hospitals across the country benefiting from a share of £300million, which could be used to expand waiting areas and increase the number of treatment cubicles, helping them boost A&E capacity by providing additional space, reducing overcrowding and improving infection control measures.

They could also increase the provision of same day emergency care and improve patient flow in the hospital to help the NHS respond to winter pressures and the risk from further outbreaks of coronavirus.

Projects will be completed by the start of next year so hospitals benefit from the upgrades during the peak of winter.

Conservative councillor for Clatterbridge, Mary Jordan said: "Without a vaccine being available yet, we don't know what kind of pressure our local NHS may be under - this extra money means Arrowe Park can hopefully plan ahead to cope with any additional pressure."

Health Minister Edward Argar said: "Our NHS did an amazing job to ensure emergency care continued to be available for everyone who needed it during the peak of this pandemic.

"Today, we are announcing the details of the Trusts across the country who will receive a share of £300 million to upgrade their A&Es and support emergency care to help them to continue to deliver safe and accessible services throughout the normally busy winter period.

"This funding is part of our record investment in NHS infrastructure to ensure our health services continue to meet the needs of the present and to be fit for future demands placed upon it."

This funding forms part of an extra £1.5 billion capital funding announced by the Government.