£500k bid to ease hospital pressure

The money will primarily be used to support people with an increased risk of needing hospital or social care services by encouraging them to become more active and involved in their communities.

Voluntary groups will be given funding to focus on trying to prevent people from becoming overweight as well as tackling isolation and loneliness.

People will also be offered advice on how they can best manage their own health in the hope of stopping them going into hospital.

Council chiefs said they hoped the cash boost would help to reduce the strain on hospital and social care services in the borough.

Russells Hall Hospital has had to cope with an extra 30 patients a day coming into its A&E department this year, increasing the pressure on services.

Delays with getting people from hospital into the care system - known as bed blocking - has also been a major problem.

It was revealed yesterday that one patient has spent almost 500 days at Russells Hall waiting to be discharged.

The £500,000 will come out of a £7 million grant from the Government as part of the Improved Better Care Fund.

Dudley Council's social care boss Councillor Nicholas Barlow said: "We’re lucky in Dudley to have a strong contingent of organisations within the voluntary sector that are dedicated to delivering fantastic services to help people stay well.

“With this funding, we hope they are able to continue and develop their role in the community and help us tackle some of the big issues we are facing.

“It’s no surprise that we are living with an ageing population and it’s critical we take action now to ensure we can support people to live as independently as possible.

“Evidence shows that leading a more active and independent lifestyle can do wonders for a person’s health and this is why it’s so important we encourage people to put their own health first.”