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As part of an overall £420 million winter fund, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that social care services across England are helping ease pressure on the NHS with a £240 million funding boost.

The £420 million total funding aims to help hospitals and social care services improve their resilience and increase their capacity during winter.

Local authorities received £240 million as part of the overall fund for adult social care. Councils receiving a share of this funding are planning to provide more than 30,000 additional packages of care to support people in their homes. They will also use the funds for another 9,000 care home beds.

The £420 million fund also saw £145 million allocated to hospitals to make improvements and £36.3 million invested into ambulance services for state-of-the-art vehicles and ‘make-ready hubs.’

Health Minister Stephen Hammond commented: “We know winter is always challenging, and that’s why we have given the NHS £420 million to prepare and improve resilience for this year.

“The health and care sector has spent this money wisely, delivering upgrades and improved services in 80 hospitals, and plans to support 30,000 more people to be cared for at home this winter have helped free up vital hospital beds.

“I’m also urging the public to help us ease pressure on the NHS this winter season. Whether that’s making use of pharmacies, calling NHS 111 to avoid unnecessary trips to hospital, or being vigilant against the spread of colds and flu – we can all help the NHS weather the challenges to come.”

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