When hospital patients are ready to go home but their property isn’t suitable, they can end up staying longer than necessary. GCH is helping to change that. By providing short-term, supported accommodation, we free up hospital beds and give people a safe space to rebuild their strength and independence.
Our Independent Living team works with the NHS and Adult Social Care to provide short-term placements for patients who cannot safely return home. In the last 12 months, we have helped 18 people across our schemes, and we currently have four properties available across three locations for hospital discharge placements.
Natalie Thelwell, Director of Housing Operations said: “When someone is medically fit for discharge but their home is unsuitable, staying in hospital can delay recovery and put extra pressure on NHS services. By providing furnished, supported homes, we help free up beds and give people the right environment to recover and regain independence.”
Residents supported through the scheme have included people recovering from serious illness or life-changing injuries, who were unable to return to homes with stairs or poor accessibility. Short-term accommodation has allowed them to rebuild strength, adjust to new circumstances and avoid unnecessary readmissions to hospital. In many cases, this support has also helped maintain family relationships and support a smoother transition into appropriate permanent homes.
Gloucestershire County Council funded joint working with the NHS to provide housing support that is impacting on Health and Social Care. Continued investment would allow us to expand this partnership work, supporting hospital discharges and benefiting residents, health services, and the wider community.