News

Local Government Association members have agreed an alternative to the government's plan to make councils responsible for the costs of delayed discharges.

The proposal is based on the fact that delayed transfers have no single cause, that no single agency is responsible for them, and that they have negative effects across the system as well as on the individual patients.

Just as the causes and effects of delayed transfers are system-wide, so the most effective solutions are likely to involve actions across the system, claims the LGAreport.

A "whole-systems" approach to delayed transfers is proposed, with development through "strengthening incentives".

Possible measures include increasing the number of indicators that are designated as being a shared responsibility between health and social care, and giving key indicators a greater weighting within the social care performance assessment model.

The report also suggests developing new targets, standards or indicators where coverage is currently not strong, such as intensive nurse support at home, and using financial incentives to support above-average performance.

Members of the LGA's social affairs and health executive, made up of councillors from member councils, have agreed the report, which will be raised at a meeting with ministers in July.