Following the revelations that cuts in local government have led to a crisis in social care, ministers have decided to allocate an extra £150 million to vulnerable people who require home help.
The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley said the extra money had been found by efficiency savings within his budget.
Along with this, a further £20 million will be given to the disabled facilities grant to enable people to continue living at home with more independence.
The announcement follows concerns from age charities such as Age UK, who stressed that cuts to home care services could leave the elderly with “absolutely no support at all”.
The Health Minister said: “Older people often need particular support after a spell in hospital to settle back into their homes, recover their strength and regain their independence.
“This money will enable the NHS and social care to work better together for the benefit of patients.”
Elsewhere, the King’s Fund think-tank advised that the elderly were threatening NHS efficiency savings targets by remaining in hospital longer than necessary and taking up beds.
It warned that the NHS needed to reduce the number of patients who were admitted as emergency cases but remained in hospital for over two weeks. Many of whom had fully recovered but care arrangements were not in place for them to be discharged.
The Government had already budgeted £648 million for primary care trusts to help social care services in 2011-2012. The Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board has welcomed the extra finance, saying that it was pleased that the need for extra funding had been recognised.
Chairman of the board, David Rogers, said: “For those entitled to taxpayer-funded care and support, councils are having to balance the long-term triple pressures of insufficient funding, growing demand and escalating costs.
“Alongside that are the ever-growing numbers of people who must pay the costs themselves, but still need information and advice to help them make the most appropriate choices.”
Last week Liz Kendall the shadow health minister, called for a review of the home care charges, accusing some local councils of applying a ‘stealth tax’ upon the elderly and disabled.
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