MORE than £320 million of NHS trust debt will be wiped by the government to strengthen the county’s health system during the coronavirus pandemic, it has been announced.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he would be wiping the slate clean for hospitals up and down the country - which includes Worcestershire’s cash-strapped hospital trust - in a vital boost for the NHS as it battles against the coronavirus.

Worcestershire’s hospital trust has been told its debt, totalling £321,580,000, has been written off as part of more than £13 billion wiped by the government.

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Anything which helps us address our historic debt position is welcome – especially now when our staff are working so hard to care for patients during the biggest challenge the NHS has ever faced. We will consider the detail of this announcement carefully to understand what it means for our trust.”

The move by the government will allow trusts to invest in maintaining vital services and longer-term infrastructure improvements.

Worcester MP Robin Walker welcomed the news saying it would ensure the NHS had foundations for the future as well put the system in a better position to tackle the pandemic.

Mr Walker said: “I am pleased that £13.4 billion of NHS debt has been written off and this step will put the NHS in a stronger position to be able to respond to this global coronavirus pandemic, and it will ensure that our NHS has foundations for the future too.

“It is welcome news that the government is providing the NHS with whatever it needs to tackle coronavirus, and this announcement provides the NHS immediate financial certainty to plan and deliver their emergency response as well as providing an increase in testing across the country.”

Under new rules, hospitals needing extra cash will be given it with equity, rather than having to take out a costly loan.