Plans to further transform mental health care in west Norfolk have received a £4m boost from a share of money pledged to the NHS in the spring budget.
The Norfolk and Waveney Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), which aims to deliver a health overhaul in the region over the coming years, won the funding alongside 14 other STPs deemed the 'strongest'.
And the cash injection means the region's mental health trust can build a new inpatient unit as well as updating existing outpatient facilities to enable mental health services to be located on one central site in King's Lynn.
The bid for national funding from NHS England was led by Norfolk and Suffolks NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), in partnership with West Norfolk CCG, and working in collaboration with Norfolk and Waveney STP.
Some £325m in total was handed to STPs around the country, in an announcement made by health secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens today, June 19.
MORE: Multi-million pound mental health unit could open in King's LynnNSFT's CEO Michael Scott said the investment was a huge vote of confidence in the project and meant that capital money which NSFT had earmarked to fund the project could now be invested into making other improvements in the trust's estate.
He said: 'Bidding for national funding is an important part of NSFT's commitment to work with our CCGs and within the STP to encourage more investment into local mental health services, in order to continue to improve the services and facilities for local people.
'This is a significant national investment into adult acute services in west Norfolk.
'And it comes on top of the £15m growth we have seen come into our trust this year as we continue to bid and negotiate.'
West Norfolk CCG's Chair Dr Ian Mack added: 'We are delighted to learn of this award and will work closely with NSFT to support the implementation of the scheme.'
Patricia Hewitt, Norfolk and Waveney STP independent chairman said: 'I am delighted by today's announcement of £4m investment into a new mental health unit in west Norfolk that will support the development of much-needed and updated facilities for local people.'
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