Cornwall to get more than £7 million to tackle delayed hospital discharges
The money has come from the Government's Adult Social Care Discharge Fund
Cornwall is set to receive £7,112,820 to help reduce delayed hospital discharges.
The Government has confirmed that the Duchy will receive the money from the national £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund.
The Fund was announced as part of the Government’s plan for patients on 22 September and aims to support discharge from hospital into the community and bolster the social care workforce, to free up beds for patients who need them.
As part of this, Cornwall Council will receive £2,327,820, and Cornwall’s NHS Integrated Care Board will receive £4,785,000.
Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: "In my regular discussions with local NHS groups and Cornwall Council, it has been clear that more needs to be done to tackle the issues with delayed discharge that negatively impact on our NHS and social care systems.
"As we enter the winter months, I am pleased to see Helen Whately MP, Minister for Social Care announce that Cornwall will be receiving more than £7 million from the Government’s £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund, to allow Cornwall Council and our NHS to work together to alleviate these pressures.
"I will continue to do all I can to highlight concerns raised with me at a local and national level by Truro and Falmouth residents in order to ensure our health and social care services and the excellent people who work with them get all the support they need to do their jobs and provide the very best care for local people over the winter months and beyond."
The fund will be used flexibly by local NHS organisations and local authorities, such as Cornwall Council, to target the areas facing the greatest challenges and strengthening the sector’s ability to recruit and retain staff.
It's hoped this will improve pathways for people to leave hospital when they are ready, and with the right care and support in place. The Government will hold the local NHS and local authorities to account for implementation.
Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, said: "It is clear that one of the major pressures facing our NHS is that of delayed discharge – where a variety of circumstances have led to people who no longer need to be in hospital occupying beds which could be better used for people who need them.
"That is why I am pleased that the Government has come forward with a £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund to give local NHS organisations and local authorities like Cornwall Council the funding they need to tackle this issue and free up the capacity that they need to support the people who need assistance.
"Cornwall has been allocated more than £7 million from this fund and I will be working with our NHS Integrated Care Board and Cornwall Council to ensure it is drawn down and used for maximum benefit.
"Just as delayed discharge is just one part of the challenges that face our NHS and social care systems, this plan is only part of the Government’s wider response, and I look forward to seeing more details of the full package of support for adult social care in the coming weeks."