Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster MP has welcomed news Devon will receive £4,237,000 of funding from the £200m national discharge fund to provide immediate support to reduce pressures on local hospitals and improve ambulance handovers.
The government has made available the new £200m national discharge fund to support integrated care boards (ICBs) to reduce risk and increase patient safety for patients in hospital beds and those waiting to access them. The fund is designed to increase capacity in post-discharge care and support improved flow through hospitals, patient safety, experience and outcomes. The funding amounts for individual ICBs were confirmed this week.
In an oral statement to Parliament, the Secretary of State for Health also announced an additional £50 million funding has also been provided for the creation of ‘modular units’ which trusts will be able to use for either short stay spaces for those who may require care after a visit to A&E, but do not require a stay on a ward; the creation of ‘discharge lounges’ for patients who no longer require a bed and are waiting to be discharged; or the creation of ambulance hubs so vehicles can hand over patients more quickly and get back out on the road to emergency calls
Kevin Foster MP said: “In light of the pressures from flu and covid on our local NHS, more needs to be done to discharge those ready to leave hospital and free up capacity for those needing to be admitted. This additional funding will free up beds in local hospitals, helping release ambulances more quickly to get back out on emergency calls.”
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