A failure to join up health and social care budgets is delaying vulnerable people from being discharged from hospital, according to a leading group of MPs.
In a new report published, the Public Accounts Committee warns many local care commissioners have not yet developed health, social and housing services which are good enough to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities.
The committee warns that without such community-based facilities, many vulnerable people will remain or be admitted to a mental health hospital.
Instead, the report calls on the Department of Health to look at how funding can ‘follow the patient’ to help fund community services and keep them out of hospital.
In particular, it recommends a ‘dowry-style’ payment system from NHS England to local commissioners to help meet the cost of discharging people from hospital.
‘Discharges from hospital are being delayed because funding does not follow the individual when they are discharged into the community,’ said committee chair, Margaret Hodge.
‘This acts as a financial disincentive for local commissioners, who have to bear the costs and responsibility for planning and commissioning community services.
‘Some local authorities’ reluctance to accept and fund individuals in the community will be exacerbated by current financial constraints,’ added Ms Hodge.
The deputy chair of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, Cllr Katie Hall, said: ‘As this report highlights, sufficient funding must be allowed to follow the individual leaving hospital to enable local areas to fulfil their responsibilities and provide the very best care packages available.
‘On occasions when a person’s mental health needs do require an admission to hospital, steps must be taken to ensure they are properly managed with the patient discharged in a safe and timely way.’
