£520,000 boost for social care

A £520,000 boost for social care in Warrington will mean people can leave hospital earlier and receive better care at home.
The money comes from an extra £150m announced by the Coalition Government to be spent on shortening hospital stays across the country during the busy winter period.
Cllr Ian Marks (pictured), Liberal Democrat leader on Warrington Council said: “Thanks to pressure from the Liberal Democrats, the cash can be used to access various preventative services such as better home care support, crisis response teams and specialist equipment. Extra money is good news, and this investment will help more elderly and vulnerable people get the care they deserve.
“This is on top of the £648m already given to Primary Care Trusts this financial year to support social care services. The cash comes from savings made in the Department of Health’s budget.
“At this time of year it is particularly important to do everything we can to ensure people are cared for at home in a safe and familiar environment, with their family and friends close by.
“By re-investing these savings in social care we can offer more help more support to older people leaving hospital. It is absolutely crucial that the NHS and the council work together to help people leave hospital when they are ready. The benefits are on all sides – patients get to go home with the support they and their families need, and hospital beds are freed up.”
Cllr Marks said the extra money would help cut delays in getting the equipment and adaptations that people needed to enable them to live independently at home – saving them from an unnecessary stay in hospital or going into residential care.