HEALTH chiefs have secured £9 million funding to expand and upgrade facilities at Leighton Hospital's emergency department.

The welcome windfall comes after a bidding process for a share in a £150m government pot to support A&E capacity at 25 hospitals ahead of the winter months.

At Leighton the money will be used to expand waiting areas and increase the number of treatment cubicles.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan MP has welcomed the news and says it is part of a combined £450m spend by the government on A&E departments to get them ready for the winter.

The £9m will be used to revamp facilities at Leighton ensuring there is enough space to treat patients, manage patient flow and improve infection control.

Dr Mullan commented: "I am very pleased Leighton has been given this extra funding after it got extra funding last year as well.

"But I know in the longer term we need investment in the whole site and I have spoken directly to the Prime Minister about this and will be meeting the Health Secretary to start making the case."

The current funding is on top of £300m the government announced last month was available to upgrade A&Es.

Last month Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party claimed Leighton could miss out on a share in the £300m pot and if it did it would see the pressure on resources and staff ramped up.

Last year the trade union Unison described services at Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, MCHT, which runs Leighton, as at "breaking point" due to increased waiting times at A&E.

Leighton has also been chosen to pilot the NHS 111 First system in which some patients will be allocated appointment times at A&E, which health chiefs say will take pressure off the department and keep staff and patients safe from the threat of Covid-19 infection.

The national initiative is due to be rolled out at the Crewe medical complex by December.

Talking of Leighton's funding, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "It was concerning to see unnecessary worry being generated about support for A&E services locally.

"At such a challenging time for the NHS, it should not be used as a political football.

"Kieran (Mullan) was in regular contact with my office about support for Leighton, something I know he will continue."

The Crewe and Nantwich MP added: "At no point was Leighton not going to get this money and to have claimed otherwise created worry for hospital staff."

A spokesman for Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party said: "Providing this is new money which will find its way to the front line it is a welcome announcement and shows how pressure applied from below can force decision makers to listen.

"Now the government needs to commit to giving NHS and social care staff a decent pay rise after years of unnecessary pay restraint."