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£2.9 billion has been announced to help relieve pressure on the NHS, free up vitally needed beds and ensure local authorities have the resources to provide community care to the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The funding comes from the £5 billion COVID-19 fund announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in last week’s budget and will aim to help patients who no longer need urgent hospital treatment to return home.

£1.6 billion will go to local authorities to help them respond to other coronavirus (COVID-19) pressures across all the services they deliver, including increasing support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable.

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£1.3 billion will be used to enhance the NHS discharge process so patients who no longer need urgent treatment can return home safely and quickly.

The funding will cover the follow-on care costs for adults in social care, or people who need additional support, when they are out of hospital and back in their homes, community settings, or care settings.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, enhancing the NHS discharge process will help free up 15,000 hospital beds across England and ensure more staff have capacity to treat people needing urgent care, including those being cared for with coronavirus.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our NHS and social care colleagues are at the heart of protecting the most vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak, and the whole country is tremendously grateful for their commitment during this challenging time.

“This funding will help the NHS and social care services in our communities to rise to this once in a generation challenge by allowing the NHS to do what it needs to, and help move people out of hospital as soon as possible to get them back home with the right support.

“We are clear that we will do whatever it takes to protect lives and protect our NHS.”

This funding is part of the government’s commitment to ensure NHS and social care system, and other public services, have all the resources they need during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “I’ve been clear that the NHS and other vital public services will receive whatever they need to protect people from coronavirus.

“Our £5 billion budget response fund is now being used to free up more beds in hospitals and ensure some of our most vulnerable people are getting the care they need. The government will continue to lay out comprehensive and coordinated responses to get this country through this situation.”

The government confirmed it will continue to monitor pressures in the NHS and local government and keep reviewing future funding.

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