"This funding for supporting patient discharges from hospitals will be significant over the winter months. We are pleased to see the importance of social care being recognised in improving this service, but it is vital to remember that social care has huge value to people’s lives in its own right."
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said:
“This funding for supporting patient discharges from hospitals will be significant over the winter months. We are pleased to see the importance of social care being recognised in improving this service, but it is vital to remember that social care has huge value to people’s lives in its own right.
“The LGA has been calling for parity between social care and the NHS for some time, and for this we strongly support the stated intention that the use of the £500 million will inform further action next year to rebalance health and care. Adult social care will remain in a crisis state until a comprehensive plan is in place to fully fund the care needed. Councils and care providers cannot continue relying on last minute, short term allocations of funding.”