The treatment and care of more people in their own communities and the provision of more support to allow them to stay in their own homes or in specially designed accommodation is vital if our society is to cope with an ageing population and the growing number of people with multiple long-term conditions. Furthermore, given the increase in demand and the consequential rise in healthcare costs, it is essential to secure efficiency savings and productivity improvements wherever possible. Much greater integration of health and housing is widely seen as one way of meeting these challenges, yet progress has been painfully slow and often unnecessarily bureaucratic. Although in theory there is everything to be gained from the health and housing worlds working closer together, all too often they operate in silos and are disconnected and detached from each other. This report, which captures the views of a range of healthcare and housing professionals and experts, explains why that is so and asks what can be done to remove the barriers to collaboration. That discussion is then followed by perspectives on what works and how new partnerships are reaping the benefits of better integration. In particular, the report breaks new ground by highlighting some excellent pioneering schemes and different types of innovation.
The report provides a snapshot of current thinking around some elements of the agenda, including using surplus NHS land to improve clinical outcomes. The report aims to stimulate a debate across both disciplines and help shape the policy response.
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