Health · Healthcare & Policy · 9 hrs ago
NHS gets £140m for urgent care ahead of a tough winter
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced £140m for urgent care in England as the NHS prepares for a tougher-than-usual winter.
The money will fund 14 schemes, including urgent care centres, ambulances and emergency department upgrades.
The warning follows a summer when almost 7.3 million people attended A&E, the highest total for a summer period in England.
Health leaders say summer heat and winter illnesses could create pressure back to back, with flu and norovirus among the expected seasonal threats.
The Royal College of Nursing says the funding may help in the short term but will not fix staff shortages or deeper NHS problems.
NHS leaders are urging eligible people to get vaccinated against flu, while waiting lists and pressure on hospitals remain concerns.
Yvette Cooper announced £140m for urgent care in England as the NHS prepares for a more challenging winter.
The funding will support 14 schemes, including new urgent care centres, ambulance fleets and emergency department upgrades.
Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E in England between June and August, the highest figure for a summer period.
The Royal College of Nursing England said the funding would be welcome in the short term but would not solve deeper pressures on the system.
- Who
- Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the funding. The NHS and patients in England are expected to benefit.
- What
- The government announced £140m to increase urgent care capacity through 14 schemes.
- When
- The announcement was reported on 17 and 18 October 2026.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- To help the NHS manage seasonal illnesses and pressure on urgent care during a winter expected to be more challenging than normal.
The government
Royal College of Nursing England
Purpose of funding
The government
The £140m will increase urgent care capacity and help patients get the care they need.
Royal College of Nursing England
The money is welcome in the short term but will not address the system’s deeper problems.
Staffing
The government
The funding will support urgent care services.
Royal College of Nursing England
The nursing workforce is already short of staff and running on empty; more investment is needed to grow it.
Almost 7.3 million people attended A&E in England, the highest figure for a summer period.
The NHS began preparing to deal with the impact of seasonal illnesses.
Experts warned of a “twin crisis” from the effects of summer heat and winter illnesses.
Yvette Cooper announced £140m for 14 urgent care schemes in England.
- Funding
- £140m
- Schemes
- 14 across England
- A&E attendances
- Almost 7.3 million in England between June and August
- Announcing official
- Yvette Cooper, health secretary
- Nursing union representative
- Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing England
2 sources
What people are saying
Winter will be more challenging for our NHS this year, after such a heavy summer.
just another sticking plaster on a system that is at breaking point
Investment in same-day emergency care and urgent treatment centres will help more patients get the right care in the right place, at the right time.
the government needed to act