The NHS incurs significant costs when people who are in care cannot remain in their home when it is no longer suitable for their needs. Over the past year people spent over 40,000 unnecessary days in hospital beds despite being well enough to go home because their homes were not suitably adapted. These unnecessary bed days alone cost the NHS more than £11.2m every year.

One NHS Commissioning authority asked us to develop supported accommodation for a group of people with a physical disability and or a multiple learning disability when their home became no longer suitable for their needs.

As the NHS needed an immediate solution we purchased a detached property that we extended and adapted internally to suit the needs of the people requiring a home. Internal doors were widened throughout to provide full wheelchair accessibility to the ground floor. Walls were removed and new walls created to form enlarged bedrooms, a wetroom and light, spacious kitchen and lounge. The new bedrooms enable people to move freely from their bedroom, to the wetroom and to the newly built living area. The infrastructure to be able to incorporate the use of a ceiling track hoist is also provided. The bedroom has also been equipped with a call system. The existing first floor has been converted into accommodation for one person and also for the care staff, which includes a shower room and sleep room area. A store room was also created to accommodate everyday equipment.

External works were also carried out to ensure that the property was accessible for a wheelchair user. The newly created outside patio provides level access so that people can access the garden. Other external works include a new ramp built at the front of the house that provides a much needed level threshold into the house from the outside, which helps people who are using a wheelchair.