People discharged from hospital to get free home care and care home support from £588m funding package

The government is to spend £588 million on helping people who require domiciliary care or care home support after being discharged from hospital.

The funding is part of a three-billion pound package provided to protect and prepare health and social care in the event of a second peak of COVID-19, during the coming winter months, and follows a £1.3bn funding made available via the NHS to support the discharge process in March.

From 1 September, the NHS will make a comprehensive care and health assessment for any ongoing care needs, including determining funding eligibility. This will provide up to six weeks of funded care following discharge from hospital.

The government also said NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) assessments will restart from September, ensuring those with complex health needs can continue to access the care they need for free.

’The road to recovery is quicker’ when receiving care ‘in the comfort of home’

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “We know for the majority of people the road to recovery can be quicker when they receive care and support in the comfort of their own home.

“This funding will help ensure people can be safely discharged from hospital knowing they will get the vital follow-on care they need to recover fully from treatment.

“We’re also making sure those with complex health needs continue to receive the best support possible in the community.”

The department states most people will be discharged back to their homes, however, they anticipate a very small proportion will need, and benefit from, short or long term residential, nursing home or hospice care.

The government added, no-one should be discharged from hospital directly to a care home without the involvement of the local authority.

All patients are required to be tested prior to discharge to a care home and no care home should be forced to admit an existing or new resident who has tested positive for coronavirus if the home would be unable to cope with the impact of their illness.

Councillor, Paulette Hamilton, vice-chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, welcomed the injection of funding, saying: “We are also reassured by the commitment no one will go into a care home without having been tested for the virus.

“Local government has asked for these commitments and will continue to play a key role in making them happen.”

The funding can also be used for urgent community response support to prevent someone being admitted to hospital. This can include providing urgent domiciliary care or nursing support, such as basic wound care, in someone’s own home, rather than in hospital.

Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), also welcomed the news, saying: “We are keen to work with the NHS and local authorities to ensure that the focus is on improving outcomes for people, rather than on time and task.

“We are also determined to ensure that homecare and support is purchased by commissioners in a way that allows fair recognition and reward of the workforce, as well as quality and sustainability of services.”

'With winter around the corner, this guidance comes at a critical time'

New guidance has been published to help hospitals safely discharge patients into the appropriate setting to maximise their independence and ensure they can remain in their own homes as much as possible.

Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed this news.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “Care England welcomes this guidance, although tardy, and the £588 million funding being made available until the end of March 2021.

"CHC assessments were deferred as a result of COVID-19 and with winter around the corner, this guidance comes at a critical time.

"We hope individuals, providers and families will be kept informed thereby ensuring that both funding and the provision of care is not interrupted for those living in care homes, an essential part of the continuum of care.

Care England also appealed to the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to work with providers and individuals to ensure speedy and quality decisions can be reached.

Professor Green added: "It is imperative funding is not interrupted during the transition period."

The new funding arrangements will apply up until 31 March 2021.

To read the guidance click here

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