Housing Conditions Pathway, Oxfordshire service

The condition of a patients home can affect their health, for example through cold, mould, damp and falls.

In the case of a cold or difficult to heat home it’s a risk for those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.  For every 1°C drop in temperature, the risk of death from respiratory conditions increases by about 10%.  For every Excess Winter Death there are eight hospital admissions and 100 GP appointments (see document 'Warm Homes Oldham' below).

 

As recommended by NICE Guidance, local authorities work with the NHS to provide sources of support, in the form of advice, funding and enforcement to ensure people’s homes are warm and safe

There are a variety of grants and loans to help with new boilers, repairs to heating systems, loft and wall insulation, schemes to carry out repairs or advice on how to ensure a home is kept affordably warm. 

Support is also available to private tenants and advice on what to do if your patient lives in a housing association property where their may be issues with the safety of the home.

The Housing Conditions pathway (below) outlines the types of help that patients can access.

If you find a patient whose health is compromised by their home being cold or unsafe you can advise them to self-refer or, in some cases, make a referral on their behalf.  The latter may make the patient eligible for additional onward help.

 

Accessing the service

  • Better Housing Better Health - bhbh.org.uk (online referral form) telephone 0800 107 0044 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

 

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