Government minister Wes Streeting visited an innovative health scheme in Cumbria as he announced a care funding boost for the county.
Mr Streeting, the Health and Social Care Secretary, visited an initiative run for Keswick and Solway Primary Care Network with Penrith and Solway MP Markus Campbell-Savours.
Co-operation between health, care and the third sector is helping to prevent patients having to go into acute hospitals, and enabling those who are, to be discharged sooner.
The initiative is improving the integration between health and social care for 41,500 patients in Wigton, Silloth, Keswick, Kirkbride, Aspatria, Caldbeck and Dalston.
The Health and Social Care Secretary’s visit coincided with the announcement of significant investment to support disabled and elderly residents in Penrith and Solway as part of adult social care reforms.
People with disabilities will be supported to remain in their homes.
Mr Streeting confirmed a funding boost of £652,033 for Cumberland Council and £418,167 for Westmorland and Furness Council as part of an £86 million boost to the Disabled Facilities Grant for this financial year.
Mr Campbell-Savours said: “This funding will be vital in supporting people in Penrith and Solway to live at home with the dignity, independence and quality of life that they deserve.
“In the election I promised those relying on or waiting for care in our community that a Labour Government would prioritise the investment and long-awaited reforms desperately needed for adult social care. Today we continue to deliver on that promise.”
Mr Streeting said: “In the first six months of this government, work has already begun on stabilising the care sector, investing in prevention, and in carers and care workers. The investment and reforms we’re announcing today will help to modernise social care, get it working more closely with the NHS, and help deliver our Plan for Change.
“But our ageing society, with costs of care set to double in the next 20 years, demands longer term action.
“The independent commission will work to build a national consensus around a new National Care Service able to meet the needs of older and disabled people into the 21st century.
“I have written to opposition parties to invite them to take part in the commission’ work, and asked Baroness Louise Casey to build a cross-party consensus, to ensure the national care service survives governments of different shades, just as our NHS has for the past 76 years.
“We are appointing one of our country’s leading public service reformers, and Whitehall’s greatest do-er, to finally grasp the nettle on social care reform.”
Mr Streeting has also visited the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven with Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister.
