Care Homes
(asked on 29th November 2016) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient care home places for people discharged from hospital but unable to go home; and if he will make a statement.
The Care Act 2014 placed duties on local authorities making them responsible for ensuring there is an effective pool of quality providers of social care in their area with capacity to meet the needs of their local population. The Department is supporting local authorities to influence their local market through improved market facilitation and commissioning to ensure that local markets are effective.
The Department has worked with the Association of Directors for Adult Social Services, Local Government Association, the care sector and other partners to produce a wide range of guidance and support about market shaping and commissioning. We have brought this together in an online Hub that is now published on GOV.UK at the following link:
The Department continues to monitor capacity and effectiveness of the market.
The Department recognises concern about delayed transfers of care from hospitals; we are working closely with local government and the National Health Service to support the market and improve transfers out of hospital, including work with the independent care and voluntary sectors to encourage local health and care systems to utilise all capacity and support available to improve discharge.