Government plans to help the NHS cast social care concerns

The health secretary has announced plans to block-book beds in residential homes to help patients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital, however experts fear this could create ‘a whole new crisis’.

Soaring pressures are continuing to be placed on the NHS this Winter – from increasing covid, flu and Strep A cases, alongside severe staff shortages – Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, has announced new measures to help.

Hours after indulging in talks with unions to bring an end to strikes, which remained unsuccessful, Mr Barclay admitted the experience for patients and staff in emergency care has not been ‘acceptable’ in recent weeks.

According to new analysis by Lottie, a digital elderly care platform, hospital admissions for older adults due to flu symptoms have surged by over 900% since mid-November.

To tackle these pressures now, the government will block-book thousands of care home beds in England to ‘free up’ capacity in hospitals, with an aim to discharge 2,500 patients. The scheme is estimated to cost £200m.

However, with an aim to helping ease NHS pressures, which have been put down to the lack of social care available, authorities involved in social care have expressed their concerns this will push the sector to breaking point.

Chris Donnelly, Social Care Advocate and Co-Founder of Lottie, said: ‘We urgently need to challenge the myths of delayed discharge in order to improve healthcare across the country.

‘Bridging the gap between hospital discharge and finding suitable care – especially for older adults and those more vulnerable, is just a steppingstone in addressing the crisis the NHS is experiencing.’

Experts from Lottie, which was launched in 2021, have said whilst the government moves forward with accessing unoccupied care beds, care industry leaders across the UK need to ‘come together’ to work with the NHS to find a sustainable solution for rehabilitative care once patients are ready to be discharged.

Mr Donnelly claims the government, whilst trying to help the NHS, need to remain mindful of the pressures the social care sector is facing.

He said: ‘From staffing shortages, increased food, and utility bills due to the cost-of-living crisis and a reduced budget, there must be adequate support in place to protect the wellbeing of care home staff and residents.

‘Otherwise the care sector is at risk of facing a whole new crisis.’

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq