THE GOVERNMENT has granted nearly £1million to assist with winter pressures on adult social care in Solihull.
Solihull council has secured around £870,000 to boost services and manage increasing demand.
The government’s department of health and social care is issuing grants to local authorities after an extra £240million was made available by health secretary Matt Hancock last month.
The one-off grant is designed not only to alleviate pressures this winter but also manage future difficulties.
A letter to the council from the department of health said: “This additional funding is intended to enable further reductions in the number of patients that are medically ready to leave hospital but are delayed because they are waiting for adult social care services.
“We expect the spending to be focused on helping to reduce extended lengths of stay, improving weekend discharge arrangements so that patients are assessed and discharged earlier and speeding up the process of assessing and agreeing what social care is needed for patients in hospitals.”
A report to Solihull council cabinet member for health and adult social care, councillor Karen Grinsell, says discussions have started with health colleagues in the region to implement the government’s plans.
Among other things, the report states around £175,000 will be spent on additional care beds with the aim of ensuring faster discharges from hospital and reduced emissions.
About £250,000 will be spent on strengthening community based support – including night support and better care at home.
Solihull MP Julian Knight praised the move in his Westminster Dairy last month. He said: “This is without doubt one of the biggest and most important challenges facing the government today, and Solihull has a particular interest in making sure that these essential services are put on a stable and sustainable footing.
“Our town has an ageing population. On the doorstep I regularly come face-to-face with what Age UK has dubbed the ‘silent crisis’: people quietly trying to care for their loved ones behind closed doors.
“This funding will help to ease pressure on the NHS at a crucial time, freeing up beds by making sure that patients can access the home care they need.”
