The Government have announced that local authorities can now put forward proposals to access the £40 million Local Authority Urgent and Emergency Care Support Fund, with North Yorkshire’s indicative allocation totalling £1,137,090.
The fund offers additional, targeted support for local authorities to address acute winter pressures in urgent and emergency care.
This comes a few months after the Government announced that it would invest £600 million over this year and next to improve adult social care capacity. This initially comprised of a £570 million workforce fund over the two years to support the social care workforce and boost capacity in social care, with the remaining £30 million allocated to local authorities on a targeted basis to address acute pressures.
With this latest announcement, the Government has confirmed it is increasing the support fund by an additional £10 million. Local authorities will be able to submit proposals demonstrating how funding will strengthen the resilience of their services this winter, with indicative allocations provided based off the adult social care relative needs formula.
Julian Smith said, “Our urgent and emergency care services rely on health and care providers working together to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and support timely and effective discharges.
“The Government’s workforce plan is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the sector, but it is important that we also recognise the acute pressures that local authorities face, particularly over the winter.
“That’s why I’m pleased that North Yorkshire Council have now been invited to submit a robust proposal for additional funds, which will ensure residents receive the required care to prevent unnecessary hospital visits and reduce discharge delays, thereby freeing up beds for those who need them most.”
