Rival plan to end delayed discharges

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.