The Senedd’s Local Government and Housing Committee has published its report into the role of local authorities in hospital discharge.
WORKING WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
The report recommends government should work with the voluntary sector, local authorities and local health boards on a strategic approach, including exploring how to improve commissioning, with longer-term funding for proven services.
This report follows consultation work, which included written and verbal contributions from WCVA’s Health and Care Project and other voluntary sector partners, including Stroke Association, Care and Repair Cymru, Tai Pawb and Carers Trust Wales, arguing for funding meeting the true cost of service.
It highlights the different approaches across regions in Wales, with disparities in processes, partnerships and the make-up of discharge teams. It quotes the sector’s evidence consistently, showing the committee’s understanding of the crucial role the voluntary sector plays alongside statutory health and care organisations to deliver good outcomes for people moving through discharge pathways.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee have made a number of other recommendations, including:
- Welsh Government should evaluate the role of Regional Partnership Boards in driving partnership working across health and social care, and use that evaluation to drive progress and improve the effectiveness of RPBs
- Welsh Government should develop performance metrics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of preventative measures in health and social care
- Welsh Government should amend hospital discharge guidance to ensure that housing is included as a named partner agency and that a person’s housing condition is fully considered and planned for during discharge
- Welsh Government should identify best practices for improving hospital discharge and should require all local authorities and local health boards to adopt those practices or justify why not
Some of the other recommendations, include:
- Welsh Government should review any current joint discharge policies and identify its chosen model for partnership working. It should then require local authorities and local health boards to adopt this approach or justify why not
- Welsh Government should drive the delivery of the digital transformation agenda in health and social care, with stronger leadership and greater accountability
- Welsh Government should set out and clarify the latest position on the Connecting Care Programme, including whether it is on track to become operational in January 2026
- Welsh Government should undertake a rapid review into current intermediate care practices
- Welsh Government should ensure that hospital discharge teams include social workers by strengthening guidance to make it a requirement
- Welsh Government should set out how it will monitor and review implementation of the national framework for commissioning care and support
- Welsh Government needs a strategic plan to improve and increase the provision of respite care across Wales
To read the full report, please visit ‘The role of local authorities in supporting hospital discharges’ document.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Are you interested in finding out more about WCVA’s Health and Care Project? If so, why not take a look at our website.