Extra money to help people leaving hospital

The Department of Health is to make an extra £162 million available to local health and care services to spend this financial year on front line services.

The extra money will be spent on helping people to leave hospital more quickly, get settled back at home with the support they need, and to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.

The total figure for Rochdale has not yet been confirmed.

The funding will bring forward the plans being put in place by health and local authorities to work together using NHS funding to support social care, as announced in the spending review. It will also enable local services to respond to pressures this winter.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:"Savings have been made in the Department of Health’s budget which can now be invested in frontline NHS services.

"It’s really important, particularly at this time of year, that we help people to leave hospital as quickly as they can, when they are ready. The latest figures show that 2,575 beds are unavailable due to delayed transfers of care.

"Older people often need particular support after a spell in hospital to settle back into their homes, recover their strength and regain their independence. This money will enable the NHS and social care to work better together for the benefit of patients.

"This additional investment for health and care services is the result of determination to deliver savings, maintain quality and invest in services that matter to patients and their families and carers during the critical winter season."

The money will be allocated to Primary Care Trusts, for them to transfer to councils to spend on social care support. Primary Care Trusts and local authorities will decide how best to use the additional funding to make the greatest impact on relieving additional pressures on hospitals over the winter period.

Examples of the kinds of services that could be invested in include: additional short-term residential care places, or respite and intermediate care; more capacity for home care support, investment in equipment, adaptations and telecare and investment in crisis response teams and other preventative services to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

There will be further long-term investment in occupational therapists, who are vital to reablement and rehabilitation services, and homecare equipment services which support people to live at home independently.