Yesterday, HM Treasury confirmed £14billion from the coronavirus emergency response fund will be provided to public services.
The NHS and local authorities involved in combatting the coronavirus will be part receivers of the fund.
The Chancellor has said that public services will get whatever they need despite outlining a £5billion coronavirus fund when announcing the budget.
More than £6billion of the £14billion fund will go towards supporting health services.
This includes freeing up hospital beds, acquiring ventilators, diagnostic tests and PPE for NHS staff.
The HM Treasury support will also enable home delivery of medicines to those that are most vulnerable.
The support has also enabled retired doctors and nurses as well as medical students to join the frontline.
Alongside £1.6 billion of new funding for Local Authorities, this health service funding means that HM Treasury has provided £2.9 billion to support local services and hospital discharge.
This also reinforces care for the vulnerable, and means that those who are strong enough can leave hospital more quickly, freeing up bed space for patients that need it.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said:
“Our public services and its incredible workers are working with immense resolve and skill to keep us safe.”
“We depend on them, which is why we are doing everything we can to provide our NHS, local authorities and others, with the resources and tools they need to tackle the virus.”
“From the start, I’ve been clear our vital public services will get whatever they need to protect this country and its people from Coronavirus. We are delivering on our pledge.”
The £14.5 billion of expenditure approved so far includes:
£6.6 billion of support to health services
£1.6 billion for local authorities
£0.9 billion to cover extra measures such as food packages for extremely clinically vulnerable people who have been advised to shield themselves from the virus at home and do not have a local network of family and friends to drop off provisions
£3.5 billion to ensure vital rail services continue to operate now and, in the future, for those who rely upon them for essential journeys
£1.0 billion for the Scottish Government
£0.6 billion for the Welsh Government
£0.3 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive
