ESSEX social services plan to spend an extra £2.6m this winter, to help older people to be at home rather than in hospital this Christmas.
Home care services for older people will be boosted and the number of beds in residential homes increased.
The aim is to reduce the number of delayed hospital discharges and unecessary admissions during the winter months.
County council leader Lord Hanningfield said: "Since the recruitment and retention of care staff is vital, we will use some of the money in a campaign to boost the number of home and residential carers in Essex.
"We are also working closely with independent care homes in Essex to increase the number of beds available to us."
A total of £1.25m will be spent on joint schemes with health and the independent care sector.
Essex Independent Care Association chairman David Holroyd said: "We look forward to working with Essex social services to explore new ways to increase the number of beds in our independent sector homes, for the benefit of older people in Essex."
December 10, 2001 15:19
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