What happened to bulk buying social care?

Whatever happened to bulk buying social care?

SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE March 17, 2023 View in browser Whatever happened to bulk buying social care? I wondered what had happened to a huge story that appeared and disappeared in January: health secretary Steve Barclay's plan to buy up social care beds in bulk to speed up hospital discharges. I'm grateful to Dave West of the Health Service Journal for this update on 13 February, widely not picked up by the rest of the media: "A high-profile £250m government intervention to free up hospital beds has so far failed to deliver any significant reduction in delayed discharges." This was despite guidance from NHS England on 13 January saying the new money must bring "immediate improvements". Quiz question Who lives (some of the time) at the Manor House in Kirby Sigston? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Blow for UK as experts predict economy will be the second-worst in G20 The OECD has warned as it also urged central banks to keep interest rates high to tackle persistent inflation. Tory MP investigated over alleged improper lobbying of NHS Steve Brine, chairman of the Commons Health Committee, is being investigated by Parliament's standards commissioner. Met Police has got a problem, Dominic Raab says as force braced for damning report Louise Casey's review is expected to criticise the Met for being racist, sexist and homophobic. Articles driving the biggest conversations Putin mocks Britons being offered turnips to eat as Western sanctions on Russia 'fail' Articles available exclusively to subscribers Rachel Reeves needs to spell out how Labour would achieve higher growth What else do you need to know today? A bill to ban the import of hunting trophies completed its Commons stages; it is a private member's bill introduced by Henry Smith, Conservative, and supported by the government; Trudy Harrison, the minister, said: "Cecil the lion has not died in vain" The government has ended the testing of arrivals to the UK from China, introduced in a panic in January: "The Covid variants observed in China continue to be the same as those already circulating in the UK" Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida and one of three leading contenders for next year's US presidential election, witnessed "torture" in Guantanamo as a Navy lawyer, according to former detainees Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is off to Rwanda this evening, accompanied by journalists from the Daily Mail, Times, Express, Telegraph and GB News; the BBC, The Independent, The Guardian, Daily Mirror and i were not invited Rentoul's reading list Katy Balls in The Times: interesting on the Australian Labor model for Keir Starmer (paywall) Mary Dejevsky on what Xi Jinping might hope to gain from China's peace plan for Ukraine (Independent Premium) I wrote for Independent Premium about Boris Johnson's forthcoming appearance at the privileges committee  David Gauke in the New Statesman praises the Budget as showing Rishi Sunak to be "a clever, thoughtful and diligent leader who seeks to solve the country's problems" – but not transformative The Top 10 today is Geographical Points, from Lagrange to Nemo £99 £20 for 1 year ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more SUBSCRIBE NOW Inside the bubble A look back at the week in Westminster  The prime minister was in San Diego on Monday, with Joe Biden, the US president, and Anthony Albanese, the Australian PM. The big childcare announcement in the Budget on Wednesday was overshadowed by the tax break for people with more than £1m in their pension. Yesterday the nurses pay dispute seemed to be settled. The theme was (mostly) competent government; the question was whether it was enough to shift perceptions of a doomed Conservative Party.   Quotation of the day "We're not asking for a fifth term for a Tory government, we're looking for the first proper term of a Rishi government." A "senior government source" to Katy Balls, The Times Quiz answer: Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty; it is in North Yorkshire We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by the UK team Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating FIND OUT MORE If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email.   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's The View From Westminster email. 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