More than £700,000 has been given to Sutton Council in additional funding to help “ease” predicted NHS winter pressures.

The money will pay for home care packages to help patients get discharged from hospital quicker, home adaptations, and schemes to help people carry out everyday tasks.

It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced an extra £240 million investment into adult social care systems across the country earlier this month.

Now that regional allocations have been announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, Sutton will receive £737,282 of the multi-million pound share.

The extra funding is aimed at reducing delayed transfers of care, and is being given to authorities based on the adult social care relative needs formula.

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Scully said: “I am delighted that Sutton is receiving nearly three quarters of a million pounds of funding to help social care services cope with winter pressures.

“This is part of our balanced approach to the economy - spending on key public services while keeping taxes down and getting debt falling.

“Social care packages allow people to leave hospital as soon as they are well enough, and ensure they can regain independence and confidence at home.

“This funding will allow Sutton Council to meet the care needs of more local people this winter.”

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said: “Any extra cash is of course welcome, but this will not make up for years of budget cuts and extra pressures placed on councils such as an ageing population and extra responsibilities which come without the cash to pay for them.”