Source: Life expectancy at birth and selected older ages, 2001 to 2019, England.

Certainly, this increase in life expectancies places greater importance and pressure on NHS services.

The need to maintain quality care for all, including older people; continues to be crucial for healthcare professionals.

What is the role of the NHS Long Term Plan?

To ensure quality is maintained in the NHS, a long-term plan was written so 'it can be fit for the future and is based on the experiences of patients and staff’ (NHS, 2019).

As part of the plan, action with grant funding is being rolled out nationwide to ‘help tens of thousands more people avoid lengthy spells in hospital’.

The plan stresses that particularly ‘longer stays in hospital for older people can lead to worse health outcomes and can increase their long-term care needs’.

Many patients in acute hospitals each year are ‘older people who are often frail, and while a short period of treatment in hospital is sometimes necessary, staying too long can leave them vulnerable to infections or deconditioning’ (NHS, 2019). 

Sources: ‘Improving hospital discharge, NHS 2019’ & ‘About the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS, 2019’.

What does this mean for patients?

Where possible treatment and care should be administered from home, where the patient is comfortable, the risk of infection is lower, and home visits with medical professionals can be arranged.

What role do contractors play?

Essential provisions or small home adaptations can be provided by approved contractors before a patient is discharged from hospital. Provisions can include:

• A stairlift.
• Handrails.
• An access ramp.
• New equipment for balance and mobility such as crutches, a mobility scooter, powerchair or wheelchair.
• Wider doors to accommodate wide medical equipment, electric medical beds, and mobility equipment.

Rapid Ramp is an approved contractor for many local authorities requiring access adaptations to homes, including fitting level access doors and installing modular ramps & steps.

How can a Hospital Discharge Grant (HDG) assist?

The grant is available to fund necessary adaptations and repairs to homes which are crucial before the patient can be discharged.

What value of work does the Hospital Discharge Grant (HDG) cover?

How much one gets depends on the cost of the work and the nature of the discharge. Please note that the maximum amount available can vary from council to council.

How do I apply for this Grant?

 An Occupational Therapist (OT) will assess your situation and your home to identify the work required. A site survey may be arranged with the contractor to take the necessary photos and measurements for the works. 

We can assist in finding the right contact within your local council. 

Contact Rapid Ramp:

T: 01424 714646

E: [email protected]