Funding over three years to increase social care capacity.
A further £5.36 million over three years is to be invested in the NHS locally to help reduce the numbers of people waiting to be discharged from hospital.
This funding will be used to support Forth Valley Health Board and local authorities including Falkirk to deliver good quality care and support for people at home or in a homely setting.
This is aimed at preventing delays in discharge and preventing admissions to hospital and attendances at Forth Valley Royal A&E. Combined these actions will reduce pressure across the system.
Reducing the number of people waiting to be discharged from hospital is a key priority of the Scottish Government and this funding forms part of its wider commitment to integrating health and social care services.
This funding will allow the government to work closely with Falkirk Council and Forth Valley Health Board to deliver reductions in the level of delayed discharges and bed days associated with them.
Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson said:
“Tackling delayed discharge is an absolute key priority for this government and the announcement of £5.36 million for Forth Valley over the next three years is crucial to this effort.
“Reducing delayed discharge not only helps individual patients, who benefit from getting home or to a homely setting as quickly as possible, but also helps ease pressure across the system. However, this is about far more than just investment, it forms part of the Government’s overarching commitment to implementing the integration of health and social care services across Falkirk district and throughout Scotland.
“This will involve Forth Valley Health Board working closer than ever with local government including Falkirk Council in a new relationship to deliver the right care to people in the right place at the right time.
“It will also include a shared commitment to deliver on key issues, such as discharging patients within 72 hours of clinical readiness, and reducing the number of hospital admissions that are avoidable.
