Welsh Government’s extra £8m funding to support people at home and reduce pressure on hospitals
Despite the extreme financial pressures on public services, the Welsh Government has held back an extra £8 million this winter to support people at greatest risk to stay well, receive care at or close to home and reduce pressure on hospitals.
The funding will wrap care around the most vulnerable in our communities to help them avoid hospital admissions.
Research also shows that people are more likely to recover better at home than in hospital and the Welsh Government wants people to be able to live their best life as independently as possible in their own communities.
The money will be used to increase community health and social care workforce capacity in the evenings and on weekends including increasing the hours of community nurses and end of life care clinical nurse specialists.
The funding will also deliver services such as the assessment of those people living with frailty or other complex needs and agreeing a plan to support their wellbeing and independence at home, particularly during illness or following an injury.
This care is tailored to each person’s specific needs and could include community nursing, reablement, rehabilitative therapy, mental health support or a combination of these and other services.
In the last year nearly £145 million has been invested through the Welsh Government Regional Integration Fund, on projects delivered by health and social care partners to provide care closer to home.
The Health Minister Eluned Morgan saw first-hand how the award-winning Home First team based in Carmarthenshire is delivering for people in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.
Eluned Morgan said: “What matters to older people in need of care and support is to be cared for in familiar surroundings with familiar people. They do not want to go to hospital unless this is really necessary.
“They are also less likely to lose their confidence and muscle strength, and less likely to pick up infections than in hospital.
“We are committed to driving change and transformation, and going further, faster to make sure more people can get the care and support they need at home or in their community. To enable this, learning about best practice needs to be shared across Wales.”
Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan added: “Older people have accumulated a lifetime of experience, knowledge and learning, and have significant role to play in our society.
“We must reshape services, ensuring older people can continue to enjoy life, and ensuring our health and social care system is fit for the future and our increasingly ageing population.
“Our longer-term strategic vision is for a national care service in Wales.”
Earlier this year, Eluned Morgan announced £5 million funding to increase the number of allied health professionals and increase access to community-based care to help people remain active and independent.
