CLACTON MP Giles Watling has welcomed additional funding for adult social care to reduce pressure on the NHS this winter.

Mr Watling said Essex has received nearly £6million in funding, one of the highest allocations nationally, to help councils alleviate winter pressures and get patients home quicker.

He said the move will free up hospital beds and ensure that those patients who are medically ready to leave hospital can access adult social care services He added that the long wait for such services was a bottleneck in the NHS during last year’s winter crisis.

Mr Watling said: “Winter is clearly a difficult time for the NHS, as last year showed.

“The Government are began planning earlier than ever this year how to support delivery of services during this challenging period.

“This additional funding for adult social care services is a key part of the plan, and will increase capacity in our hospitals.

“I am constantly fighting our corner to ensure we in Clacton don’t get left behind.

“I look forward to hearing how this funding will be spent in our local area.”

The funding will help to reduce delayed transfers, reduce extended lengths of stay, improve weekend discharge arrangements, and speed up the process of assessing what social care is needed for patients in hospitals.

Following the funding announcement by health minister Matt Hancock, Mr Watling wrote to local health leaders to ask how this funding will be utilised in Clacton.