Margaret Willcox, president elect of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), responds to the latest NHS England figures for delayed transfers of care in February 2017.
She says: “While it is concerning that the number of delayed discharges attributable to social care has risen over the last year, it is encouraging to see there were 500 fewer delays in February because people were waiting for care packages in their own home than the previous month.
“Social workers and care staff have done a fantastic job addressing winter pressures despite the historic underfunding of social care which has put the sector in crisis.
“Without sufficient care at home, people will continue to be admitted to hospital, which will increase pressures on hospital staff already struggling to cope with demand.”
