Royal Stoke University Hospital is to benefit from a share of £300 million announced by the Government to upgrade A&E departments around the country.

The hospital will receive £4.3m to help reduce overcrowding and limit the risk from further outbreaks of Coronavirus ahead of winter pressures.

It's hoped that the project will improve patient flow at the hospital, and provide an additional area for dedicated children's A&E.

The project should be completed by the end of the year, so it can be ready for patients during the peak of winter.

University Hospitals North Midlands Chief Operating Officer, Paul Bytheway, said: "Due to the increasing number of Coronavirus cases at the start of the pandemic we took a range of measures to ensure that both our hospitals, staff and patients remained safe.

"This included re-organising our Emergency Departments at both Stoke and County Hospital in Stafford to ensure Covid-19 positive patients were kept separate from non-Covid-19 patients.

"The changes also saw our children's emergency department and Children's Assessment Unit at the Royal Stoke move to elsewhere on site.

"Funding received today from the Government will ensure the positive steps taken already will be further developed as we prepare for winter and will help re-provide a dedicated children's A&E and assessment unit as well as develop a Priority Assessment Unit to improve flow in the department and the across the hospital."

John Oxtoby, UHNM Medical Director, added: "It is thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of our staff that we have continued to safely care for those who need life-saving treatments in our emergency departments during the pandemic.

"The winter months always bring additional pressures and this funding will help the people of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent to continue to access emergency treatment this winter should they need it."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented on the funding, saying: "We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300 million allocated today for NHS trusts to upgrade their facilities and improve A&E capacity.

"These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver world-leading services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.

"Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

"It's vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe."

While Health Minister Edward Argar added: "Our NHS did an amazing job to ensure emergency care continued to be available for everyone who needed it during the peak of this pandemic.

"Today, we are announcing the details of the Trusts across the country who will receive a share of £300 million to upgrade their A&Es and support emergency care to help them to continue to deliver safe and accessible services throughout the normally busy winter period.

"This funding is part of our record investment in NHS infrastructure to ensure our health services continues to meet the needs of the present and to be fit for future demands placed upon it."