West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is to receive a share of £700 million of funding to support the NHS this winter.

Money is being given to 187 hospital trusts to "increase capacity and tackle waiting lists", with West Hertfordshire receiving £3.55 million.

The Department for Health says the £700 million will help reduce waiting times for patients by expanding the number of operating theatres and beds, including new day surgery units to prevent people staying overnight, and investment in technology to improve their experiences of care and help them manage their conditions.

Funding has been split into different categories; capital, digital, and revenue. West Hertfordshire put in a single bid for capital funding which was successful.

Watford MP Dean Russell said he "welcomed" the Government investment into the NHS this winter and during a discussion in Westminster, paid tribute to the staff at Watford General Hospital.

The Department for Health says the £700 million investment is part of the £5.4 billion already announced to support the NHS response to the pandemic in the second half of the year.

In total, the Government says it is investing over £34 billion of additional funding in health and social care services this year.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Ahead of what is going to be a difficult winter, we’re putting everything behind our health and care services, so everyone can access the services they need, when they need them.

"Our £700 million investment will help more people get treated over the coming months by upgrading wards, operating theatres, and diagnostic kit."

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, added: "NHS staff have pulled out all the stops since the beginning of the pandemic treating more than half a million Covid patients, while continuing to perform millions of checks, tests and treatments for non-Covid reasons.

"There is no doubt that this winter is going to be tough with staff contending with the highest ever number of 999 calls in October and it remains as important as ever that people do not delay seeking help from the NHS if they feel unwell."