New NHS sustainability and transformation funding announced

A new NHS sustainability and transformation fund of 1.8 billion pounds has been announced by the Department of Health.

The money is intended to provide the NHS with the resources it needs to sustain services as part of the government's Five-Year Forward View, while also helping challenged hospitals to achieve financial balance and improve the way they deliver care for patients.

It will be allocated depending on hospitals meeting a series of strict conditions and will help trusts to reduce their deficits and focus on transforming services, with a particular focus on delivering on the goal of achieving seven-day service provision.

To earn a share of the money, trusts will need to demonstrate a strong deficit recovery plan, show how they intend to reduce their unnecessary outgoings, and set out a clear and credible plan for achieving seven-day services by 2020.

Sanctions will be included as part of the funding to ensure hospitals comply with the measures.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "This government is committed to the values of the NHS, which is why we're investing ten billion pounds in its own plan for the future, including six billion pounds upfront by next year."