The Government has announced £250m funding for local areas to buy thousands of extra beds in care homes and other settings, to help discharge more patients who are fit to leave hospital.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“We recognise the pressing need to discharge fit patients from hospital, but as well as funding care homes and other settings to take patients, it is imperative that there is also sufficient investment in domiciliary care so that patients who can receive care at home – whether that be from a care worker or family member, or both - get the adequate support they need.

“It is absolutely vital that unpaid carers are involved in the hospital discharge process - as is their hard won recent legal right. Where a care setting is identified as the right place for a patient to be discharged in the short-term, it is important that a plan is developed between the hospital, carer and care setting, to ensure that when the patient is fit to return home they and the person caring for them have the right practical support in place.

“Our State of Caring 2022 research has shown a worrying lack of involvement and support – 43% of carers disagreed that they had been involved in the decisions about discharge and the care and treatment needed. If carers are not involved in the dialogue around discharge, we will see more families struggling to meet high care needs and their loved ones returning right back to hospital.

“It’s essential that all of the five national Discharge Frontrunners announced today have clear support for and involvement of unpaid carers in their plans.”