PATIENTS across the North West are set to benefit from faster urgent and emergency care, shorter waits and improved hospital experience following national recognition for two local NHS trusts in the region.

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust have each been awarded £2 million to build on work they have already done to help patients receive timely urgent and emergency care, reduce waits and improve capacity.

Urgent and emergency care is the type of medical help people need when they are seriously ill or injured, or need treatment quickly, such as A&E and urgent same-day hospital care.

The investment will go towards practical changes to cut delays, ease pressure in hospitals and improve the experience of people who need care quickly.

Sam James, Chief Operating Officer at NHS England in the North West, said, “Congratulations to North Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. We’re very pleased two of our trusts have been recognised for the work they’re doing to help patients benefit from faster care and improve their hospital experience. The funding they’ve received will help us, reduce delays in A&E and better support patients, and help both trusts build on the progress they have already made.”

Kelly Mclellan, director of operations urgent and emergency care at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This extra investment is really welcome and gives us the chance to build on the progress we have already made in urgent and emergency care for our patients. We are already seeing shorter waiting times and this additional funding will help us go even further.

“New approaches like Same Day Emergency Care centres, offering other alternatives for those who come to A&E and providing care closer to home are all ways we are helping ensure patients get to the right service at the right time.

“We recognise there is more to do with our focus being to reduce waiting times even more to improve the overall experience of our patients.”

Sarah Brennan, Chief Operating Officer at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to receive this investment, which will help us reduce delays, improve patient flow through our hospitals and ensure those in need of urgent and emergency care are treated quickly and safely in the right place, at the right time. It will help to strengthen the incredible progress already being made through our BetterLives programme – helping to bridge the gap between hospital and home – and transform care while improving the experience of residents across the Wigan Borough.”

The funding has been awarded through the NHS England Urgent and Emergency Care Capital Incentive Scheme and can be used this financial year and next.

The funding forms part of NHSE’s wider ambition to improve A&E waiting times and reduce long waits, while supporting local organisations to build on progress already made.

The announcement highlights the contribution North West organisations are making to more timely care and underlines the region’s continued focus on improving services for patients.

The latest awards build on NHSE’s wider incentive programme. In 2025, the North West secured £25 million in capital funding as part of a national £150 million package designed to reward performance and improvement across emergency care.