A supported housing scheme in Mansfield is set to save the NHS £1.3m a year.

The joint venture by Nottinghamshire County Council, Mansfield District Council and Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group that aims to speed up the discharge of older and disabled residents from King’s Mill Hospital is being expanded.

Mansfield District Council has dedicated two bungalows and two apartments with adaptations for interim care for discharged patients who are either homeless or have homes that are no longer suitable for their needs — along with staff working in the hospital to offer advice and support with housing issues.
County council social workers work with the district council to find suitable people for the scheme and the county authority provides the necessary care and support whilst a permanent home is found by the district.

The scheme was set up last October and currently supports around 30 discharged patients, but the expansion will see it supporting around 60 people a month at an annual cost of £233,000.

Coun Muriel Weisz, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee, said: “This scheme is beneficial to people leaving hospital because it gives them the care and support they need, while offering greater independence that helpswith their long-term recovery.

“In many cases this reduces the need for us to place discharged patients in a residential care home on a short-term basis, which doesn’t offer the same home environment and is a more expensive option.”

Hayley Barsby, head of housing services at Mansfield District Council, said: “It is exciting to have developed a scheme that has assisted so many vulnerable people to move from a hospital setting and begin the transition home.

“We all know that people recover better at home, but for some people their accommodation is just not suitable for their needs.

“As a housing authority, the council is able to facilitate rehousing or dwelling adaptations very quickly. This scheme demonstrates what can be achieved through successful partnership working that removes barriers and creates a citizen-centred culture.”

The chief officer for NHS Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Amanda Sullivan, said: “We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable people in our society by making sure they get personalised care at the time they need it the most. Not only does this scheme help us achieve that, it is also helping to relieve much needed pressure on hospital beds.”