Poor social care access post-hospital means drastic loss of public funds

Figures released by Age UK today show the dire extent of hospital bed days that are extended due to delays on access to social care, calculating 2, 431,120 days to have been lost between June 2010 and March 2015.

According to the older people’s charity, this crisis has cost the taxpayer £669m that could have been saved if access to domiciliary services was more robust, while avoiding a great deal of distress for families and loved ones.

Commenting on the figures, Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes says, “With a quarter of hospital beds filled by people with dementia often on extended stays, this new report shows how much can be saved if we fund the care for someone with dementia in the place they can be best supported. Less cost and better care. A 'win win' that must not be ignored.”

ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) president, Ray James, urges for a rethink on healthcare spending in order to avoid these false economies developing.

He says, “ADASS would always want people to receive the care and support they need, where and when they need it. Over the last five years there has been a 31 per cent real terms cut in government funding for social care (some £4.6bn), despite this, social care delays remained below 30 per cent of the overall delays of people awaiting discharge from hospital.

“We would urge every Council to ensure timely and appropriate discharge for the benefit of the people concerned, but government must provide the funding required to ensure people get the care and support they need when they need it.”