Hospital delays cut by a third after more social care staff recruited

6 January 2026

The number of hospital patients waiting for support from Powys County Council, before they can return home, has been cut by a third, after extra social care staff were recruited.

A £1.3 million Pathways of Care Transformation Grant, awarded by Welsh Government, has been used to fund additional social workers, occupational therapists and enablement assessors. And follows work by the council, throughout the year, to strengthen the home care market.

Twelve-months-ago there were 60 Powys patients waiting for social care to be provided before they could leave community hospitals in the county, or larger district general hospitals in England (Shrewsbury, Telford and Hereford). This year, that figure is down to 38.

The grant has been used to strengthen discharge co-ordination, with the many health bodies serving Powys patients, and to increase social care assessment and home care capacity.

"Reducing social care delays at this time of year is a significant achievement and testament to the dedication of our front-line teams and the provision of extra funding by Welsh Government," said Councillor Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys. "We will continue to build on this progress to ensure patients receive timely, co-ordinated and personalised care and support."

The Pathways of Care Transformation Grant has seen £30 million allocated to county councils across Wales to spend on community-based social care during the current financial year.

The Welsh Government asked that Powys spends its share on reducing the number of people waiting for:

• Social worker allocation
• Completion of assessment by social care
• The start of a new community care package funded by social care
• A reablement community care package

More information on working in social care in Powys:

• Working for Powys County Council: Working for Adult Social Care
• Working for a care agency: https://en.powys.gov.uk/homecareworker

More information on accessing support and advice:

• Contacting the council's Front Door team: ASSIST
• Support at home across Powys, including Home Support: Early Help and Prevention at Home

PICTURE: Members of Powys County Council's Front Door Team which has been expanded to reduce hospital delays.