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A stark warning has been issued that Norfolk's care system could buckle this winter and heap further pressure on cash-strapped council budgets. Leaders at Norfolk County Council, who need to make £45m of cuts and savings to balance County Hall's books , are dismayed the Labour government has yet to make extra money available to deal with winter pressures on adult social care. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Winter is traditionally a testing time for the NHS and the adult social care department run by the council.
Hospital admissions increase because of illness and falls and patients may need adult social services support support after they are discharged back home or into care homes. Norfolk County Council says extra money would help it better cope with winter social care pressures (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire) The council's Conservative-controlled cabinet this week agreed its winter plan, which details how it will work with the NHS and private providers to support people. But senior councillors said the task would be made harder because of a lack of extra money to pay for the services people will need.
Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for adult social care (Image: Archant) Alison Thomas, the council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Unfortunately, this year, unlike previous years , there's no extra funding. "That means any pressures that we experience in our care market over the winter and which our partners within the NHS experience, will have to be met from existing budgets." She said the winter plan sought to keep people out of hospital as much as possible and to support them in returning home if they did end up in them.
Bill Borrett, cabinet member for public health (Image: Bill Borrett) But Bill Borrett, cabinet member for public health, warned Norfolk's care system had not seen pressure abate over the summer. He said: "For the first time in a long time there is no extra winter funding from the government and I think this is going to have a really big impact. "I think that is a great risk for the system.
There is a huge amount of risk in the whole system. "I flag this up now because, whilst we are all working together and using the money available, we will have to face this winter with less money than we had last winter, if the government does not come up with winter pressure money." Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) In the budget , chancellor Rachel Reeves announced what she called the biggest real-terms increase in day-to-day NHS spending since 2010, outside the Covid pandemic, but extra money for social care has yet to be announced.
How to stay 'winter strong' People in Norfolk and Waveney are being urged to make sure they are 'winter ready' as part of the annual Warm and Well campaign. Health chiefs are encouraging people to prepare in advance for seasonal illnesses and to make sure they keep healthy over the winter. That includes ensuring vaccinations, such as for flu and Covid-19, are taken as soon as they are offered.
People are also advised to stay warm, be active and keep well-stocked medicine cabinets for common winter illnesses. They are also encouraged to check for financial support, such as through the county council's Household Support Fund and for eligible people to apply for pension credit . People should also make use of the range of NHS services available across Norfolk and Waveney, including the NHS 111 service, community pharmacies, the walk-in centre in Norwich's Rouen Road and the Minor Injuries Unit in Cromer.
Dr Frankie Swords (Image: Queen Elizabeth Hospital) Dr Frankie Swords, executive medical director for NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, said: "Winter comes to us every year, but that doesn't mean we have to suffer every year too. "This year we are offering flu, Covid-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccines to prevent vulnerable people from getting ill with horrible winter bugs. "Please do take up these free jabs if you are offered them – it’s the best way to keep yourself well and 'winter strong'.
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