26.03.20
CIPFA responds to the £2.9bn funding for most vulnerable in society
Last week, the Government announced that £2.9bn of the £5bn COVID-19 fund announced the in the Chancellor’s budget will be spend on caring for the most vulnerable in society.
The money will be spent on helping patients no longer in need of urgent hospital treatment to be cared for at home, making at least 15,000 beds available during this pandemic.
Of this funding, £1.6bn has been allocated to local government as they provide a fourth emergency service during this crisis.
The remaining £1.3bn is for NHS organisations to support hospital discharges, and funding social care support packages required for those heading home, releasing vital capacity of hospital beds.
CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has responded calling the additional support to services ‘vital’ and asked for more clarity on how to access the support.
Dr Eleanor Roy, CIPFA Health and Social Care Policy Manager said:
''We’re glad to see recognition of the pressures on local government in responding to this outbreak through the allocation of the COVID-19 Response Fund. This will provide vital additional support to services which have a pivotal role to play at this time.
The requirement relating to hospital discharges will clearly place a significant burden on already strained social care services, and it is encouraging to see that the government has provided assurance that they will fully fund the cost of social care support packages related to this.
''What is needed now is detailed information on how the funding for local government will be deployed – and more importantly when it will be available to allow them to act as swiftly as possible. Clarity on the additional resources available to those supporting vulnerable people will be vital as we go forwards.’’