Long-term asthma sufferers from across the borough could soon get financial help to improve their housing conditions after a £50,000 grant was today approved by Gedling Borough Council.
The council announced that it is working with the Nottinghamshire North and East Clinical Commissioning group to target NHS users who have significant health problems, in particular, acute asthma due to damp, cold homes and offer them help to make their homes warmer and more fuel efficient.
The Warm Homes Prescription scheme aims to work with a small number of GP practices in the borough to identify patients who are suffering with a medical condition that could be made worse by the condition of their home. The council will make an appointment with the patient to visit the property and see if any remedial works can be done that could improve the situation.
If the patient is on a low income and owns their home, they may be eligible for a grant of up-to £10,000 to complete the works. If they are on a low income and live in a private rented property a grant of up to £5,000 will be available and the landlord would be expected to contribute 50% of the total cost of works.
The costs to the NHS of treating the illnesses caused and aggravated by cold homes are estimated to be about £1.36 billion per year and additional social care costs are likely to increase this further.
Councillor Henry Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Health & Well Being said: “This project is about working closely with our local GP practices to do something about poor housing standards and reduce the burden on the NHS dealing with cases that could be prevented with some home improvements.”
