The Department of Health and Social Care of the Government of UK has allocated £760m for the modernisation of 40 National Health Service (NHS) hospitals and community services.

This amount will be used to construct new buildings, wards and bedsto meet local demand, including new urgent care centres and modernisation of mental health facilities.

The Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) has been allocated £300m to transform local hospital services. The fund is intended to be used to develop an emergency care site and a separate planned care site, with 24-hour urgent care centres at both sites.

Furthermore, 39 smaller projects will be awarded the remaining money, which includes £6m to upgrade services of eight trusts across Yorkshire and £8m for a new health and wellbeing centre to join up local NHS services in Kent.

Plans also include £13m investment for two new urgent care centres in Newton Abbot and Torquay, and refurbishment of Torbay Hospital’s A&E department. One project will be allocated worth up to £11m.

Health and Social Care Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt said: “Further major projects are also under consideration across the country and we intend to announce one large scale scheme the size of the Shrewsbury and Telford plan every year going forward based on high-quality plans coming forward from local NHS leaders.”

The government is also providing £150m to enhance the use of a digital programme that helps the NHS use its workforce better.

It will also facilitate more efficient use of energy in hospitals, and improve pharmacy IT and administration systems to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety.