News in brief

POLICY & POLITICS

Up to £250 million is to be provided to the NHS to buy thousands of extra beds in care homes and other settings to free up hospital beds. The announcement followed an emergency meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and NHS leaders last month.

Care England, the representative body for care providers in England, called for weekly fees of at least £1,500 to fund hospital discharges to care homes.

The Scottish government announced funding of at least £8 million for additional care home beds to ease hospital pressure this winter. The measure was announced by the Scottish government’s cabinet secretary for health and social care Humza Yousaf, following the UK government’s action in England earlier.

New strike dates in February were announced by nurses in England and Wales after negotiations broke down. The Royal College of Nursing said strike action would be escalated on 6 and 7 February due to the government’s refusal to “seriously negotiate”. Ambulance workers announced 10 strike dates in February and March.

Lib Dem health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the use of private brokers to find care homes for hospital discharges is a “scandalous situation”. Cooper’s comments came after The Guardian reported private brokers were earning millions finding care home beds for the NHS and local authorities.

Free PPE for front line health and care staff has been extended by a year until 31 March 2024 or until stocks are depleted. The scheme is designed to provide protection for front line staff against Covid as part of the government’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy.

Hospitals in Bristol, Devon and Cornwall have begun discharging patients into ‘care hotels’ to help ease winter pressures. The BBC reported NHS Devon had block-booked 40 beds at the Leonard Hotel in Plymouth, 10 of which are to be used by patients from Cornwall.

Provider News

ivolve Group, formerly known as Envivo Group, relaunched with a new larger family of social care providers in addition to its acquisition of Cavendish Care. ivolve Care and Support has also integrated existing providers Heathcotes, New Directions and TLC Care and Support under the ivolve Group name, offering residential accommodation to 1,100 adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and associated complex care.