Exclusive: People living in hospital due to housing needs impacting NHS ability to admit patients

An NHS trust has said its ability to admit patients in need of care is being affected by the number of people living in hospitals due to housing needs.

Over the past six months, 116 people have lived in South London and Maudsley (SLAM) hospitals for four weeks or more while awaiting housing from their council.

The data, obtained by the South London Press under the Freedom of Information act, shows there are 37 people currently living in the trust’s hospitals waiting to be housed.

A spokeswoman for SLAM said: “We care for some of the most disadvantaged people in our communities who need support from multiple agencies. 

“Unfortunately, it is a fact that appropriate housing or supported accommodation isn’t always available when patients are well enough to be discharged from our wards.

“This in turn impacts our ability to admit others who are in need of inpatient care.”

Last month, the South London Press reported on Lorna Russel, 56, who had been living in a hospital for four weeks after her council failed to house her before her discharge date.

Ms Russel was admitted into Bethlem Royal Hospital in Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, in April after she had a mental breakdown.

She was due to be discharged in May but the hospital would not discharge her until Lewisham council offered her accommodation.

A nurse on Ms Russel’s ward said the hospital had been in touch with the local authority regarding her housing needs but did not receive a response for five weeks.

Speaking from the hospital at the time, Ms Russel said: “There are people who need this bed space that I am taking up because the council won’t house me.

“My dignity has been taken away and I am stuck here taking up a bed space someone might need.”

Ms Russel has now been housed in temporary accommodation by Lewisham council.

A council spokesman said: “We are making contact with Ms Russel to provide support as required and understand whether the accommodation remains suitable for her needs.”

A spokesman from SLAM said the trust would continue to work with local authority partners to ensure patients have access to “appropriate housing” for their ongoing care and recovery.

The trust includes four hospitals within Lewisham and Lambeth.

There are 25,906 households on Lambeth council’s housing waiting list – the highest out of all local authorities in the capital – and 9,507 in Lewisham, according to new data analysis by property construction company Mobile Annex.

Both local authorities said rising costs in providing temporary accommodation, an ageing stock, new regulatory requirements, and the cumulative loss of homes through Right to Buy have caused a lack of council housing available to residents in the boroughs.

Lewisham councillor Will Cooper, cabinet member for better homes, neighbourhoods and homelessness, said: “It’s a crucial time for housing in Lewisham and across the country. Making sure that everyone has a safe place to call home is a priority for us.

“Social housing is an integral part of making that a reality, but many years of underfunding have led us to a crisis point.”

Earlier this month a 10-year plan to boost social housing was published by 20 of the largest local authorities in England including Lambeth and Lewisham. 

Cllr Danny Adilypour, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Investment and New Homes, said: “The national failure to prioritise new social housing means that every night more than 4,200 homeless households in Lambeth are in expensive, but unsuitable temporary accommodation. This is both wasteful and fails to meet people’s needs.

“We are working with large social landlords to commit to working with the Government to find solutions.”

Pictured top: Lorna Russel in Bethlem Royal Hospital (Picture: Lorna Russel)