MP welcomes over £1 million extra social care funding for Cumbria

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed an extra £1,610,203 for social care in Cumbria which will mean people can leave hospital earlier and receive better care at home.

The funding comes from an extra £150m announced this week by the Government to be spent on shortening hospital stays across the country during the busy winter period.

The money could be used to access various preventative services such as better home care support, crisis response teams and specialist equipment for people across Cumbria.

This is on top of the £648m (created by savings made in the Department of Health's budget) already given to Primary Care Trusts this financial year to support social care services.

Commenting, Tim said: "At this time of year it is of particular importance to do everything we can to ensure people are cared for at home in a safe and familiar environment, with their family and friends close by. The additional money from the coalition Government is a welcome move that allows patients to safely go home with the support they need, it also helps to free up hospital beds."