Safe Housing and Hospital Discharge

Lord Best Excerpts

Wednesday 19th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend made particular reference to mental health care. She will be aware of the discussions that took place at Second Reading and in Committee on the Mental Health Bill. I am sure we can all agree that an out-of-area placement is not ideal, although there are some circumstances in which it has to be the case. In the progress of that Bill, we will be attending to the point that she makes. I agree with her that the delays attributed to housing are significantly higher, at 17% for patients who are discharged from mental health settings. This remains a challenge that we are focused on.

[Lord Best (CB)]

My Lords, has the Minister considered the proposal from the Centre for Ageing Better for good home hubs, where older people whose homes are inaccessible, cold and unsafe can get all the advice and support they need on adaptations that can make such a difference—the stairlift, the walk-in shower, better insulation—thereby enabling them to live longer independently and to take the pressure off the NHS and care services?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Lord puts the case strongly for the process of home adaptations. As I have already mentioned, we have provided an immediate in-year uplift to the disabled facilities grants of some £86 million, which will enable people to adapt their homes exactly in the way that the Centre for Ageing Better describes, and I welcome its work. I should say that it is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that they are supporting applicants through the process of home adaptations as much as possible. We are always looking at ways to improve the process and share good practice, so I welcome the contribution of the Centre for Ageing Better.