Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 19 March 2026.
James McMurdock
Independent, South Basildon and East Thurrock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of social care workforce shortages on delayed discharges from hospitals in Essex.
Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department have made no assessment of the potential impact of social care workforce shortages on delayed discharges from hospitals in Essex.
It is important that people are discharged promptly from hospital with the right support, both for their outcomes and to free up beds for other patients.
The Government provides £9 billion through the Better Care Fund to be used jointly by the National Health Service and local authorities towards achieving agreed goals for reducing discharge delays.
English local authorities have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.
That is why we are committed to transforming adult social care and supporting adult social care workers, turning the page on decades of low pay and insecurity. That is why we plan to introduce the first ever Fair Pay Agreement in 2028, backed by £500 million of funding to improve pay and conditions for the adult social care workforce.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
