How can housing help the NHS with hospital discharge

In this webinar, we shared findings of new National Housing Federation (NHF) research on the impact of housing-related delayed discharges from hospital and discussed the role that supported housing could play in enabling people to regain independence alongside alleviating pressure on the NHS.

Speakers

• Chair - John Verge, CEO, Golden Lane Housing Ltd
• Katie Hipkiss, Research Lead, NHF
• Francesca Crisante, Research Officer, NHF
• Jeremy Wainman, NHS Lead for Adult Mental Health and Dementia, NHS Wakefield CCG
• Lynn Hirst, Service Manager, Foundation UK
• Dr Emily Parker, Senior Policy Advisor, NHS Hospital Discharge Team, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
• Lucy Mowatt, Senior Policy Advisor, NHS Hospital Discharge Team, DHSC

Purpose of research

In September 2024, waiting for supported housing was the single largest reason for delayed discharges from mental health hospitals.

Changes to the Mental Health Act will soon mean that NHS services will have to focus on appropriate discharge.

This research looks at different housing led approaches to ensuring that people have somewhere suitable to live and are not left in hospital long after they need to be there.

Detailed studies of services to support homeless people and older people as well as people with mental health issues and/or a learning disability or autism show that a housing-based approach can be transform quality of life.

It can also drive significant system wide savings to public spending and prevent a revolving door of people returning to crisis NHS care.