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

Corporate Director of Housing

Lambeth Council
Circa £180,000
We are now seeking an experienced and forward-looking Corporate Director, Housing Lambeth, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Lambeth Council

Technician

Mansfield District Council
£26,403 - £28,142 per annum
We’re looking for someone with a genuine passion for theatre and the technical expertise to support a wide range of performances. Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Homefinder Review Officer

Mansfield District Council
£26,403 - £28,142 per annum
Mansfield is a great place to work, we offer great benefits including a very generous holiday entitlement Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Environment Services Operative (Driver)

Ashfield District Council
£26,403 - £28,142 per annum
As a driver operative within environmental services you will work flexibly dependent on the day to day needs of each service Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council

Environment Services Operative (Non-Driver)

Ashfield District Council
£25,583 - £25,989 per annum
You will work flexibly dependent on the day to day needs of each service Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council
Linkedin Banner