To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the number of patients currently in hospital who are medically fit to return home but are unable to due to an appropriate care package being unavailable.

Information on the number of patients in hospital on 17th January 2022 who were medically fit to return home but were unable to be discharged as they were awaiting a care package to be put in place, has been provided by each Health & Social Care (HSC) Trust and is detailed in the table overleaf.

Number of inpatients medically fit for discharge but unable to be discharged because an appropriate care package was not unavailable (17th January 2022)

The domiciliary care sector continues to face significant pressure on services, as demand continues to outstrip supply. I have recognised the need for immediate action to support the sector over the winter period and I was therefore pleased to recently announce a £23million funding package for domiciliary care and care home staff.

This funding has already begun to be rolled out to providers through Trusts, and we have seen a number of recruitment drives by providers, offering more favourable hourly rates and terms and conditions to employees.

I have been clear that this additional funding must be used to stabilise and enhance capacity across the sector to see us through a very challenging winter period.