Local AM David Rees has welcomed additional money for social services in Neath Port Talbot to deal with winter pressures.

The Welsh Labour Government has made an additional £10m available to local authorities in Wales to enable social services to support people in their homes and communities.

Health and social services in Wales, like the rest of the UK, have been under significant pressure this winter. The extraordinary levels of demand this year has been compounded by an increase in patients suffering with flu, norovirus and respiratory illness attending GP practices and A&E.

The Welsh Government recognise that getting people out of hospital and into a more appropriate care setting is hugely important, both for the individuals concerned and the NHS. Wales has seen a 7% reduction in Delayed Transfers of Care in December, confirming that the total number of delays during 2017 were the lowest since records began 12 years ago.

This additional investment will help to support the social care sector and those that work in it  to deliver care and address additional pressures.

Mr Rees said:  “The Welsh Government are right to recognise the importance of properly funding social care and I welcome this additional money.  Delays in assisting patients into a more suitable care setting and out of hospital have a huge impact on individuals and on the NHS”

“We have seen how the failure to fund social care in England has had a huge impact of supporting people to leave hospital and move into care, either at their own home or within the wider community.”

“Our health and social care services are heavily dependent on each other. So I’m really pleased the Welsh Labour Government put an £10m investment into our social services, so that local government can continue providing high quality social services to people in Neath Port Talbot.