Frugal Lansley adds £170m to home help

 

James Tapsfield
Monday 02 January 2012 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Government has found an extra £150m for patients to receive care at home rather than in hospital.

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said the money had become available thanks to efficiency savings in his department's central budget.

Another £20m is also being made available for the disabled facilities grant, which helps people to live independently at home.

The move follows a warning from the charity Age UK that cuts to local authority funding are creating an "absolute crisis" in social care for the elderly.

The influential King's Fund think-tank has also cautioned that old people are often taking up valuable hospital bed space unnecessarily.

Primary care trusts and local authorities will be able to decide how best to spend the cash to relieve pressure on hospitals over the busy winter period.

Mr Lansley said: "Savings have been made in the Department of Health's budget which we are investing to help people leave hospital as quickly as they can, when they are ready, and to receive support at home."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in