From: “Reading Borough Council” <webmaster@reading.gov.uk>
Date: 3 Oct 2014 16:03
Subject: Better Integrated Support for People Moving on to Social Care from Hospital
To: <Racheleden.whitley@gmail.com>
Cc:
Better Integrated Support for People Moving on to Social Care from Hospital
03/10/2014
Reading Borough Council Press Release
READING health and social care agencies are to improve integrated support for people needing ongoing care after being discharged from hospital. This comes at a time of changes to health and social care funding and the recent publication of a new report into delayed discharges.
A Healthwatch Reading investigation into a small sample of delayed discharges has been welcomed by the Reading Health and Social Care Board. The report’s findings have been used to help formulate an action plan to enhance people’s experience of health and social care.
Reading has a low number of delayed discharges compared to the national average, but the Borough’s health and social care agencies are committed to reducing delayed discharges from hospital, decrease avoidable hospital admissions and to provide appropriate health and social care that meets the individual’s needs.
Improved integrated care was the basis for the Borough’s recent ‘exemplar’ bid to the Better Care Fund (BCF) – a national programme to bring the NHS and social care closer together.
To help address delayed discharges, part of the BCF money will be used to provide ‘Time to Think’ beds for people moving from hospital into social care. This initiative will enable people to make care decisions outside the often stressful hospital environment and will promote faster hospital discharge.
Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading’s Lead Member for Health said:
“In the face of nationwide budget cuts and with the increasing pressures of caring for an ageing population, the need to integrate care provision is now more important than ever.”
“We would like to thank Healthwatch for their research and recommendations. Reading’s health and social care agencies are working together on a ‘whole system’ response that will be reviewed by the Council’s Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education (ACE) Committee in November.”
Cllr Rachel Eden, Reading’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care said:
“The Council and its health and social care partners actively seek scrutiny to ensure that residents are supported in living fulfilling lives whatever their needs. Healthwatch Reading has provided valuable patient perspectives and their findings are being taken very seriously.
“The Better Care Fund has shown how our shared responsibility for health and social care can produce workable plans to ensure that Reading residents receive the care that is right for them.”
Dr Ishak Nadeem, Chair, South Reading CCG said:
“We're grateful to Healthwatch Reading for their help in highlighting the concerns of patients who have been affected by delayed transfers of care. We're committed to working together with other organisations to learn from these stories and to improve patient experience.”
Dr Rod Smith, Chair North & West Reading CCG said:
“With more demands on the health service, amid budgetary pressures, we're working with our partners in social care to reduce the instances of delayed transfers. Money from the Better Care Fund is being directed towards initiatives such as Hospital at Home where patients with certain conditions can be treated at home to help reduce pressure on hospital beds.”
Healthwatch Reading will have an ongoing role in monitoring the delivery and outcomes of the delayed discharge action plan.
Healthwatch Reading board member David Shepherd said:
“Healthwatch Reading thanks the people who shared in great detail, deeply personal and often upsetting experiences of care. The way that local services have responded to their stories, proves that by speaking up, the public can make a real difference to health and social care in Reading.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Reading Borough Council Press Releases can be found online at http://www.reading.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/
Media Contact: Anna Fowler
Tel: 0118 937 3957
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