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Wirral Council is to receive £1.5 million from the new £200 million Government fund to help more people recover from ill health at home or in care.
The money will help to tackle delays to discharge from hospital, free up hospital beds and reduce waiting times for treatment.
At the same time, the local NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside will receive £7.6 million in December and a further £11.5 million in January, from the £300 million fund for hospitals.
Councillor Lesley Rennie (Conservative, Wallasey Ward) said: “I know from residents that having loved ones being kept in hospital than for longer is necessary is a major concern, and also causes others to have to wait longer for treatment.
“I’m pleased that the Department for Health is also allowing local councils and hospitals more discretion into how this latest money should be used – rather than the top down approach we have seen in the past.
“I would hope consideration will be given to using some of it to boost the adult social care workforce, through staff recruitment and retention, if the Council and the NHS agree that would help to reduce delayed discharges here in Wirral.”
Minister of State for Care, Helen Whately MP, added: “People should be cared for in the best place for them, but discharge delays mean patients are spending too long in hospital.”
“Our discharge fund will get more people cared for in the right place at the right time. We’re asking hospitals and the social care system to work together to help patients and carers too, who often take on a lot of the burden of caring when someone leaves hospital."
“The discharge fund will boost the social care workforce and in turn reduce pressures on the NHS and hospital staff, as it frees up beds and helps improve ambulance handover delays.”