Funding boost for health and social care

PLANS to transform Wales’ health and social care system will receive a £180m funding boost next year, ministers announced today.

Health and Social Services Secretary, Vaughan Gething and Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care, Huw Irranca-Davies today set out their spending priorities for 2019-20.

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government published A Healthier Wales, the longterm plan for health and social care.

As part of the process of transforming the system, the Welsh Government wants everyone to have access to a single integrated package of health and social care when they need it. This may be delivered by several different services, according to people’s needs.

Mr Gething said: “The £180m package of investment we’re confirming today for health and social care in Wales represents a significant additional investment next year.

“It will be targeted across the health and social care system, to reflect the integrated approach we are promoting towards the development of seamless models of care.”

Mr Irranca-Davies added: “The £50m additional investment we’re making in social care will help services meet the growing demand for services and the needs of individuals in communities’ right across Wales.

The announcement comes as the Welsh Government will today publish stage two of the draft Budget 2019-20 – the detailed spending proposals set out how funding will be allocated.