Lister Hospital in Stevenage gets £2 million for extra escalation, general and acute beds this winter, so A&E patients can be admitted faster at busy times.

Lister Hospital in Stevenage is to receive £2 million of government money for extra beds this winter, so that more people who arrive at A&E can be moved onto a ward when the hospital is under pressure.

The money will pay for additional escalation, general and acute beds at the Lister, according to a press release issued on 18 October by the office of Kevin Bonavia, MP for Stevenage. It is one of 14 urgent care schemes across England sharing almost £140 million.

What the money is for

The release says the extra beds “will enable more patients attending A&E to be admitted to appropriate hospital beds when demand is high, helping to reduce delays in emergency departments and ensure patients receive the care they need.”

Escalation beds are the extra capacity a hospital opens when its normal wards are full. The release does not say how many beds the £2 million will buy, which wards they will be on or when they will open.

The funding comes after what the government calls a summer of record NHS activity and extreme heat. Flu and norovirus add to the workload every winter, and the release says the NHS has been preparing since July.

What the MP and the Health Secretary said

Kevin Bonavia welcomed the money and linked it to earlier spending at the hospital:

“I’m pleased to see this investment in the Lister, which will make a real difference to patients and staff as we head into winter.

“It’s part of the wider work we’re doing to strengthen our local NHS. We’ve already seen significant recent investment in the Lister, including £11 million for paediatric services, alongside funding to tackle urgent maintenance issues across hospital buildings.

“I’m committed to making sure our local health services have the capacity and resources they need to care for people in Stevenage and the surrounding villages. This latest funding is another welcome step towards delivering that.”

The Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

“Winter will be more challenging for our NHS this year, after such a heavy summer. That’s why we have been preparing early and investing in extra urgent care capacity to help get patients the care they need.

“NHS staff worked incredibly hard to keep on top of the extra pressure this summer. Now we need to support them in delivering for patients through the winter season, so our NHS is there for all of us when we need it.”

The national picture

The Lister’s £2 million sits inside larger sums, according to the release:

  • almost £140 million for the 14 urgent care schemes announced now, the Lister among them;
  • a further 25 new or expanded urgent care sites, announced in April, due to be open for winter;
  • almost £2 billion for urgent care building projects until 2030;
  • £1.5 billion confirmed so far for urgent maintenance problems across NHS buildings.

The government has also widened Pharmacy First, so pharmacies can help with more common conditions, and says more GP appointments are available in the evenings, at weekends and out of hours over the colder months.

What it means for you: get the flu jab

The release ends on the one thing readers can do themselves. More community pharmacies are offering the flu jab this year, and eligibility now includes more vulnerable groups, including people experiencing homelessness. Over 7.4 million flu vaccinations had been given in England by 11 October, and more children have been vaccinated so far this year than last.

According to the NHS flu vaccine page (checked 18 October), you can have the free NHS flu jab if you:

  • are 65 or over, or will be by 31 March 2027;
  • are 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions, such as asthma needing a steroid inhaler or tablets, COPD, heart or kidney disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system;
  • are pregnant;
  • live in a care home;
  • are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive Carer’s Allowance;
  • live with someone who has a weakened immune system;
  • are 16 or over and sleeping rough or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter.

Booking is open now. You can book online or in the NHS App, find a pharmacy that offers free flu vaccination, or contact your GP surgery. The NHS says the last day to get the jab is 31 March 2027, with online booking closing on 30 March, but that it is best to have it as soon as you can. Children have a separate flu vaccine programme, covered on the NHS website.