Welsh Labour's Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas today announced an additional £37 million for this financial year for continuing healthcare, enabling the elderly to live more independent lives.

The announcement comes as new statistics show continued improvements in reducing the number of patients experiencing delayed discharge from hospital.

Continuing healthcare is where a person’s health needs are judged to be so significant, complex, severe or unpredictable that they need to be actively managed by the NHS, which will also pay for all the health and personal care they need.  Care can be provided in a variety of settings including a nursing home, hospice, the patient’s own home or hospital.  

Today’s substantial new funding comes on top of the recurrent £50 million that has already been allocated to Local Health Boards (LHBs) to help meet the financial pressures that are placed on continuing healthcare budgets as the Welsh population ages.

The latest statistics published today on delayed transfers of care – when a hospital patient is prevented from being discharged for one or more reasons – show a continued reduction in the numbers of delayed discharges.

The total number of patients experiencing delayed discharge in July was 552 - a decrease of 8 per cent on the previous month and 51 per cent from a September 2003 high of 1116.

Gwenda Thomas said:

"It’s a cause of celebration that we are all living healthier and longer lives.

"But with the population living longer we are seeing additional pressures on long term care.   We are committed to ensuring that every single person in Wales receives the best possible care when they need it and today’s significant investment is further proof of our commitment.

"We are also committed to working with local government, the NHS and others to ensure that when people do go into hospital they are moved on quickly at the right time to the right place for ongoing treatment or safe, timely discharge into the community.

"Such delays were reduced by 50 per cent between 2003 and 2006 and today’s figures show continued improvement in reductions.

"The extra money that I’m announcing today will further help the NHS and local authorities in their efforts to build on this progress."