Two new posts are being created to help people get back home after hospital and tackle bed blocking.

Carlisle City Council is using government money to fund the posts, which will help to ensure adaptations are carried out to patients’ homes before they are ready to leave hospital.

The council is funding a dedicated occupational therapist and a new hospital discharge coordinator – both initially three-year posts – to focus on these issues.

The authority has a statutory duty to fund work at the homes of those with mobility problems or disabilities. However in the past, the amount of money required far exceeded the council’s funding allocation.

This meant that only those who met strict financial criteria qualified for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Those who did not, had to fund any adaptations themselves.

However in 2016/17, the city council received a significant increase in its government grant.

Councillor Lee Sherriff, communities, health and well-being portfolio holder, said as a result, the council has been able to help more people. Initially it set up discretionary funds to help some who would otherwise have missed out on the grants.

She said: “We took a decision to have a discretionary fund because there were situations where people were classed as being able to pay for it themselves because they had assets, but actually in some cases they couldn’t. It was so that nobody who really needed an adaptation would miss out.”

So-called “delayed transfers of care” arise when a patient is well enough to leave hospital, but cannot go home because their property is not suitable or because there is no care package in place.

Now the council has come up with new ways to help people stay independent while also tackling bed-blocking.

The two new members of staff will work across the wider NHS and social care system, but the money will come from the city council.

Cllr Sherriff explained: “It’s to speed up the process. That was one of the things we were really conscious of. They will be working alongside the NHS and social services. It’s about joining the dots.

“For example, take someone who is in hospital after a stroke. If that patient gets to a point where they are able to come out of hospital, they may need some adaptations to their home.

“If that doesn’t happen, they could end up in hospital – or somewhere else – unnecessarily. Someone needs to be overseeing it all, bringing it all together and joining up those dots. This is about everyone working together.”

She added that it was all part of a wider plan to care for more people at home, prevent illness and reduce admissions.

The council’s executive agreed the new vision earlier this week.

Cllr Sherriff is urging anyone who would benefit from adaptations to their home, but can’t fund it, to enquire about the grants.

She added: “It’s all really positive. Last year there were more adaptations carried out, which shows we are doing what we set out to achieve.

“What we want is for people to be able to live more independently, and have what they need to make that easier.”

She stressed the grants are not just for elderly people, but also children or younger adults with disabilities.

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To find out more about the grants, visit www.carlisle.gov.uk/Residents/Housing-and-Homeless/Adaptation-and-Housing-Grants