A new grant being offered to carers of patients ready to be discharged from North Lanarkshire hospitals hopes to tackle delayed discharge and support the wellbeing of carers.

A £1,000 one-off payment is available for all carers of people medically fit to leave hospital, to meet extra costs while they recuperate, across the health and social partnership.

To receive the funds, both the patient and carer must agree the money will be spent on the person’s care – which can include increased heating costs, travel expenses to collect prescriptions and complementary equipment.

No pre-existing entitlement to carer’s allowance is needed to be eligible.

Diane Fraser, Head of Adult Social Work Services, Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, told healthandcare.scot that the safest place for a person to recover once clinically fit is in a homely setting; the scheme is designed to enable this as quickly and safely as possible:

“In North Lanarkshire, we want to support people through the hospital discharge process as quickly and safely as possible. We have introduced a one-off payment of up to £1,000 for carers whose family member or relative is on the discharge list.

“The payment is intended to support any additional costs incurred by the carer while looking after someone who is recuperating.”

Carers Scotland reported in October that the cost of living crisis is causing unpaid carers to “spiral into poverty”. Many have been forced to cut back on both food and heating to make ends meet.

Carers have raised concerns that much of their services’ are losing out due to funds being lost within other local health and care spending decisions. A national carers strategy – published in December – commits the government to continue encouraging local authorities to spend their full share of funding on carer support.

North Lanarkshire’s initiative has been welcomed by local carers, according to Ms Fraser. One noted that the grant has had a significant positive impact on their ability to care for their family member.

Other health and social care partnerships are also taking an interest in the scheme. Details have been circulated to other authorities who may be considering similar measures.

Effectiveness of the scheme, on both delayed discharge and the impact on carers, is being monitored by North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Read more: Strategy to build ‘sustainable future’ for carers; Care crisis to hit rural regions hardest; Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry core participants revealed; Inquiry: Social work systems “exhausting” for carers

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