NHS faces more challenging winter than usual, warns health secretarypublished at 08:44 BST
08:44 BST
Ian Aikman
Live reporter
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
The NHS is facing a more challenging winter than normal, the health secretary says, after multiple heatwaves led to its busiest summer on record in England.
Yvette Cooper has announced £140m funding to boost urgent care capacity as part of an effort to deal with the impact of seasonal illnesses, including flu and norovirus.
The money will go towards 14 schemes across England, including new urgent care centres, ambulance fleets and upgrades to emergency departments.
Shadow health secretary Damian Hinds says the government needs to act, but has asked it to explain where the money is coming from. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) England says the funding is “just another sticking plaster”.
Cooper says: “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.”
Yvette Cooper will be speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on this morning’s show, you can watch live above.