£1 million fund to help keep people at home

Sheffield City Council will use the money from the Government’s Transformational Challenge Award to support thousands of people at moderate to high risk of hospital admission to keep their independence for as long as possible.

Currently, between 40 and 60 per cent of hospital admissions for long term conditions in the city are for avoidable causes.

The project will aim to make better use made of community assets to meet the needs of the growing older population and increasing numbers of people experiencing long-term conditions, severe mental illness and isolation.

Council leader Coun Julie Dore, said: “The extra funding means we can develop even more innovative approaches to keeping people well and healthy at home, before they reach a crisis point, and reach even more people.

“It’s really important to me that we make the most of our community support and enhance this wherever possible, to increase people’s quality of life and continue to provide the support that people need with the increasing pressures on our health and care services.”

Pilot projects are already in operation in the city and will be expanded with the extra funding.

Dr Zak McMurray, GP and clinical director at NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group said he hoped the funding would make a real difference to local people as well as helping to reduce the pressure on health and care services.

He added: “In Sheffield we have a strong partnership approach across health and social care and a long experience of joint working so receiving this funding will only go to strengthen that so we can continue to work together for the benefit of Sheffield people.”