New funding announced for NHS social enterprises

The government has announced a new 19 million pound funding injection to support NHS social enterprises, in addition to the 100 million pounds invested over the last five years.

Announced by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office, the new funding boost will cover the next year and will be used to help frontline healthcare staff to run services tailored to needs of their local area.

Around 6,000 healthcare-related social enterprises have been established thus far, with benefits including greater freedom and motivation for staff, as well as more flexible services for patients.

The Department of Health will also be sharing its expertise with the Cabinet Office's mutuals team as it aims to give staff across all government departments the right to form social enterprises.

Andrew Lansley, secretary of state for health, said: "The NHS is full of people with new ideas about giving patients the care they need. Social enterprises are able to harness these innovations and provide services that will greatly help patients."

The move was also welcomed by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude as a positive development for entrepreneurial public servants.