A NEW children's emergency department is set to be built at Stoke Mandeville Hospital using £15 million from the government.

The funding was announced on Thursday as part of a £28 million package of funding to upgrade A&E departments in a bid to reduce overcrowding and improve infection control ahead of winter, when a spike in coronavirus cases is expected.

The £15 million funding will help create a modular building to house a children's emergency department and an inpatient ward.

The hospital does not currently have an children's A&E.

The extra cash boost announced this week is in addition to the £300 million already announced for 117 Trusts across the country to upgrade their facilities.

Alongside this, a new offer to patients is being piloted in Trusts across England, with NHS 111 being the first point of contact for accessing urgent medical care.

NHS 111 will build on its role during the coronavirus pandemic to direct patients to the most clinically appropriate service, including Emergency Departments, an Urgent Treatment Centre, a GP or mental health professional.