RCEM response to latest report from think tank Reform
Royal College of Emergency Medicine
Responding to the latest report from the think tank Reform, Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:
“Social and community care bolsters a well-functioning health service and especially a successful urgent and emergency care system.
“Social care helps prevent vulnerable patients from having to go to hospital, and if they do need to go to hospital, helps when they come out. Without adequate social care services, patients often remain in hospital unnecessarily which increases exit block through the system and leads to lengthy stays.
“Reform’s findings highlight this problem – a problem the College has been concerned about for years. In a few weeks, the Government will publish the budget. The harsh cuts to social and community care urgently need to be reversed, especially as we begin an exit strategy from the pandemic.
“The College calls on the Government to invest £3.9 billion in adult social care by 2023/4 allowing for more resources and staff which will help enable patients to be discharged promptly and safely when their medical care is complete. This will have an impact on the waiting times in hospitals and help to reduce lengthy stays and exit block.”
