A team of staff from Mid Devon District Council has been helping to ease the burden on the NHS by carrying out home adaptations in the district.

The Repairs and Adaptations team has been working closely with Devon County Council and NHS social care teams to ensure that hospital patients, who are fit and able to return home, can do so safely and quickly.

According to data from NHS England, there are currently around 3,000 people occupying hospital beds, who could be in their own homes, if alterations to their properties and social care packages were already in place.

In the past two weeks, the team at Mid Devon has carried out nine new adaptations, prioritising work that is designed to ease so called ‘bed blocking’ in hospitals. The work varies from the installation of grab handles, to the construction of large concrete ramps or the installation of stair lifts.

Michael Lowman, Repairs and Adaptations Supervisor, said:

“We’re working closely with our colleagues in other agencies to ensure we all work together to help people get back to their homes as soon as possible. Some of this work may seem minor, but when it allows you to return to your familiar surroundings, it’s a huge positive, both in terms of the individual’s welfare and the impact on the NHS as a whole.”

Anyone who needs support in their community during the Coronavirus crisis can call the Council’s Community Support Hotline on 01884 234387 or email covid19.support@middevon.gov.uk.