County councils are calling for the funding in the Better Care Fund (BCF) to be brought forward to help reduce bed blocking.
Analysis from the County Councils Network (CCN) found a ‘significant’ increase in the number of days for patients waiting for a residential care home placement or care package in the past year.
County leaders are calling for the funding to be allocated to councils now rather than as planned in 2020 to help stabilise the care market.
Colin Noble, CCN's spokesman for health and social care, said: ‘County leaders are calling on the BCF to be brought forward, to give us a fighting chance of addressing this funding crisis which not only has an emotional impact on patients, but a severe financial impact on the NHS.
‘But even if the BCF is to be frontloaded, the way it funds councils needs to be re-examined so that funding follows need. Despite county areas being home to the largest elderly population, and delayed transfers of care rising dramatically, urban areas benefit far more from the fund. And a holistic approach is required if councils and the NHS are to find locally-led solutions to ensure that people receive quality, safe care in the most appropriate setting.’ The figures show in county areas, there has been a 29% increase in the total number of patients whose transfer of care has been delayed from the period of 2011 to 2015.
