The proposed changes will allow housing associations to get grant to help them provide temporary housing to recovering patients who are well enough to leave hospital, but still in need of short-term daily support. At present, this support is not available.
The change is designed to aid a government drive to reduce the number of convalescent patients filling hospital beds they do not need, and to fill some of the estimated 150,000 empty sheltered housing spaces across the UK.
The move will also benefit local authorities. From next year, NHS trusts will be able to fine councils if social services do not provide help so that patients can leave hospital.
An ODPM spokesman said the department will release a consultation paper next month that could lead to a statutory instrument.
"It proposes that RSLs and housing associations have a wider role in providing accommodation," he said. The details of the changes have not yet been finalised.
The news follows a campaign to change the law by sheltered housing providers.
In August Virginia Bottomley, president of the Abbeyfield Society, wrote to the then-chair of the Housing Corporation, Baroness Brenda Dean, and housing minister Keith Hill, pressing for a change in the rules.
Abbeyfield's chief executive Brian House said: "We have accommodation suitable for people to stay for three- to eight-week periods after leaving hospital.
"However, we cannot negotiate contracts with the local health authorities because the schemes were funded by the Housing Corporation."
Mary Harris, supported housing operation director at Ashley Homes said: "If the rules were changed that would be excellent.
"I have an extra-care scheme where we have voids, but we haven't been able to offer it because of the restrictions."
Source
Housing Today
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