It is increasingly accepted that, while the pandemic caused huge damage to local public services, it did succeed in building a closer relationship between the NHS and local government. Moreover, the Government has now taken steps to further formalise the partnerships, through its White Paper Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all, which places integrated care partnerships on a statutory footing.This is good news, but the relationship is not without its challenges, and one policy in particular - Discharge to Assess - has been very difficult for many local authorities. An evidence base for the longer-term impact of COVID on adult social care from one London borough shows half of residents discharged into a care home following a COVID-19 hospitalisation remained in the placement beyond six weeks. Sixteen per cent of those receiving domiciliary care in their own homes also continued to demonstrate need beyond six weeks.The likely cost of these support needs beyond the initial six weeks, for this one borough is up to £7m in domiciliary care packages and care home placements by the end of March 2022, and these cost pressures are specifically unfunded.
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