The New £588 Billion Government Fund to Get People out of Hospital

The government has introduced a fund of more than half a billion pounds to fully fund people’s post-hospital care costs. This means that people can get discharged from hospital on time, and receive fully funded care in the comfort of their own home.  

The money that has been offered by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will pay for 6 weeks of at-home convalescent care, and any other immediate care costs patients have after a stay in hospital. In this article, we are going to look at what the DHSC’s fund can be spent on, who is eligible, how the funding will work, and how you can make the most of the government money by choosing a carer with Curam.  

When is the fund available? 

The funding was introduced in September 2020 and will be available until 31st March 2021. Care needs assessments and NHS CHC funding have also been available since September, and are still taking place to help people with complex care needs receive the support they require to recover quickly. 

Who is eligible for this fund? 

People are eligible for this government funding if they need care after being in hospital. This could include older people, or people with disabilities that need support at home after a stay in hospital. The funding is for adult social care and any other immediate care costs that will help someone with their rehabilitation and recovery.  

How much funding can people get?  

The government has provided enough money for people to get 6 weeks of fully funded post-hospital care. The money can also be used to fund any additional care services needed for rehabilitation during this time. This will help people to recover at home and avoid going back to hospital.  

What can the government fund be used for? 

The £588 billion of government funding will mainly be put towards funding care that people receive in their own home. However, it can also be used to fund for the following: 

·     Support at home 

·     Care home costs (any patients planning to go to a residential care home for post-hospital care will first be tested for Covid-19) 

·     Community nursing services  

·     Services such a physiotherapy  

·     Urgent community responses that stop people from going to hospital  

Why has this fund been introduced? 

The funding has been introduced to help people get out of hospital as soon as it is safe to do so, and to recover at home. It is often quicker, easier and more pleasant to recover at home and unfortunately, it is often the case that people wait a long time before they get discharged from hospital. 

The funding has been introduced to make sure that patients are discharged safely from hospital, as they can count on receiving the care that they need to recover at home. The money comes from the 3 billion pounds that the government put towards protecting health and social care during a potential second peak of the coronavirus pandemic this winter.  

How will the fund work? 

The NHS will be able to access the money provided by the government. They will be able to put it towards the care of a patient after they have been to hospital.  

Guidelines have been set out to make sure that patients are discharged safely, and care managers will oversee this guidance and make sure people are discharged on-time. Care managers will also check that patients are well informed when they are discharged back home, and that someone receives all the relevant assessments and follow up support required.  

How to get out of hospital quickly with Curam  

The quickest way to hire a convalescent carer is by creating a job ad with Curam. In fact a number of Curam clients have been able to hire a carer within an hour of signing up to our platform. The easiest way to create a job ad is on our app which is easy to use and can be downloaded to your mobile device.   

Alternatively you can sign up (for free) and search by postcode for carers in your area – you can then message these vetted and approved carers directly yourself. 

Job adverts on the Curam platform receive an average of 5 applications from potential carers. This means that not only is Curam the quickest way of choosing a carer, but it is also the method that offers people the most choice about who they want to provide care in their home. 

We’re here to help! 

Here at Curam, we want to help you and your loved ones find the best carer for you. If you need any support or want to ask a question about Curam, convalescent care or any other care related issues, do not hesitate to email our client support team on client@curamcare.com.  

Our support services will be available everyday (except bank holidays and weekends). If you are a carer who would like to know more about working with Curam, you can contact the carer support team on carer@curamcare.com. Alternatively, you can call us on 01387 730766.