The British Geriatrics Society has made an official representation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fund discharge care on an ongoing basis in the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).
The CSR, due in Autumn, is the Government’s opportunity to set out spending plans for the next three years and we believe it is important for all of society that older people’s healthcare is sustainably funded for the long term.
In August, NHS England (NHSE) announced £588m of additional funding to support people’s reablement and recovery in the six weeks immediately following discharge from hospital. The funding is available only up until the end of March 2021 and can be used by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to supplement current health and social care support for those who need it. This is a universal provision and not confined to those who have had COVID.
The BGS welcomed this funding when it was announced, but we believe that it should be continued beyond March 2021. Six months of funding does not allow systems to plan or to employ additional staff to deliver these reablement and recovery services.
Nineteen BGS officers and prominent members have joined forces this week to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to urge him to announce ongoing funding for discharge services in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
