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Written question asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 7 February 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 February 2017. It was answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy (Conservative) on Monday, 20 February 2017 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Geriatrics

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to expand the Better Care Fund to enable investment in geriatrician posts based in A&E Departments, to reduce admissions and the likelihood of readmission.

Answer

The Better Care Fund (BCF), first announced in Spending Round 2013 and implemented from 2015-16, is the first national, mandatory integration policy. The total size of the Fund has increased from £5.3 billion in 2015-16 to approaching £6 billion in 2016-17. The mandated minimum is also rising each year up to 2019-20.

BCF plans are agreed in local areas to pay for services that support a more integrated approach to health and social care that will benefit their population. The policy framework for the BCF includes some minimum requirements for investment in out of hospital National Health Service services and maintaining funding from clinical commissioning groups to social care.

Beyond this, and as long as it is consistent with the aims of the plan, areas can agree to fund work in hospitals that supports the wider aims of the Fund to reduce emergency hospital admissions, delays in discharge and admissions to care homes. This could include investment in geriatrician posts based in accident and emergency departments if partners agree this locally.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5311
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Geriatrics Accident and emergency departments Better Care Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk