Laura Sharman 06 August 2021

Call to invest £600m to avoid 'bed blocking' this winter

Call to invest £600m to avoid bed blocking this winter image

Council and health leaders are calling for £600m to free up thousands of hospital beds this winter.

In a letter to ministers, the organisations warn people who are ready to be discharged from hospital risk having to stay longer than needed, if vital additional funding is not confirmed this month.

In April, the Government invested £600m in community services to allow people to be discharged from hospital and treated in or close to their homes. The new approach guarantees four weeks of care support for each discharged person.

Figures shows this approach freed up 30,000 hospital beds and 4,000 frontline nurses.

However the organisations, which include the Local Government Association, warn these services will need to scaled back or stopped altogether if the discharge to assess funding isn’t matched for the next six months from October.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'The interaction of health and care systems is complex and can be controversial, but this is an approach that has been proven to work. With the NHS facing a mammoth backlog of care and with the government committed to unveiling a comprehensive social reform package in the autumn, this is surely not the time to be cancelling an initiative at the boundary of health and care that has worked so well.'

The letter has been signed by the NHS Confederation, NHS Providers, Healthwatch England, the British Red Cross, the Local Government Association, and Age UK.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Social Worker - ASET

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 / Grade 11 £39,513 - £43,693
We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative social worker who has completed their assessed and supported year in employment, and passionate abou Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Care Team Manager

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band I, SCP 44 - 47 (£55,609 - £59,027) per annum
We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Social Care Team Manager Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Registration Technician

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
£37,280-£41,771
Sandwell Registration Services are seeking to employ a suitable individual to be part of their award-winning Bereavement Services team. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Home Support Assistant

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band D, SCP 9 -17 (£27,254- £31,022 per annum)
Make a Real Difference Every Day! Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Administrative Assistant

Wakefield Council
£15,211.51 to £15,452.91, pro rata. Grade 4
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a temporary Administrative Assistant Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner