Today, the Department for Health has announced that Surrey County Council will receive an extra £4 million to help support our local social care services ahead of the coming winter. The money comes as part of a £240 million package that could help deliver up to 71,500 home care packages to help get patients out of hospital more quickly, and is a real local win for our area.
This brings the total amount the government have spent to support our NHS ahead of this winter to £420 million, including £145 million given to the NHS last month to upgrade wards, redevelop A&E facilities, and pay for 900 extra hospital beds, and £36 million given to ambulance trusts in June to purchase 256 new ambulances.
All in all, this news means fewer local residents stuck in hospital this winter when they would rather come home, and more care and support for people when they are home.