Cumbria delayed transfers of care see massive drop

Today at a meeting of Cumbria County Council, County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services announced that delayed transfers of care from acute hospital beds has dropped so significantly that the Government has formally notified the Council that it is no longer a delayed discharge `hot spot'. 

Delayed transfers of care arise when someone is medically fit to leave hospital but is awaiting a home or residential care package. A `hot spot' locality was an area identified by the department of Health as one where delayed transfers of care were unacceptably high. The Government set reduction targets for `hot spot' council's in April 2002. 

County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services says, 

"I am pleased to announce that as a direct result of the Council's major and substantial efforts to reduce delayed transfers of care over the past two years, we have been notified that Cumbria is no longer listed as a `hot spot' Council. This is a clear indication that home care charging and other policies, coupled with investment in services to support older people and the promotion of independence are a major success. We have been working hard with Health partners to ensure delayed transfers of care are minimised enabling acute hospital beds to be available for people awaiting admission to hospital. 

Targets for delayed discharges were set by the Department of Health. Not only were our targets met but whey were exceeded. The target for March 2003 was 66. Not only did we meet this target but exceeded it with only 42 delays at the end of March. The figures over recent weeks have reduced into the 30's. 

I am delighted to be able report this achievement gained through the Council's policies, investment and the hard work and commitment of our staff."