Home care income to speed up hospital discharges

Today, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet announced its intention to target some of the income from home care charges to reduce the number of people delayed in acute hospital beds, confirming its commitment to invest in services to support children and vulnerable adults. This will enable people currently delayed in hospital due to lack of finance to go home with appropriate support or move into residential care. This targeting of some income from home care charges will quickly alleviate the problem of delays and ensure that funds are available in future years to continue the care provided when patients leave hospital. Delayed discharges are already well below the target set by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) for the end of March.

This additional funding is crucial due to the Governments introduction of a charging policy that will cost local councils £100 per day for every patient who's delay is deemed the responsibility of the Council. The policy comes into force in April 2003. County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for care and Social services says,

"The Governments new policy to charge Councils for delays in hospital discharges is one we have opposed since it was announced. We were one of only two local councils not charging for home care and the decision to charge, raising income for the support of vulnerable people was a timely one. The home care charging income for the remainder of this financial year is £1.5m. Cabinet will recommend to County Council that this money is used to lower delayed discharges where the delays are directly due to lack of money. Additionally, the money will be used to develop other services to help further reduce delays and to recruit additional staff to speed up the assessment process.

As the population ages, we need to invest more in health and social care services. The Governments Change Agents undertook a whole system analysis of service provision. The report findings, published in July 2001, identified a number of health and social care factors impacting on patient discharge delays. The policy to charge for home care and the targeting of this income is wholly consistent with the recommendations of the report. I am delighted that our previous efforts have resulted in the Council exceeding its targets* for reduction in delayed discharges. I look forward to the continuation of long-term reduction in these delays in Cumbria. Cumbria County Council continues to work together with all its health partners to achieve joint objectives for health and social care in the county."

This proposal will be considered by County Council at its meeting on 23 January.