Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure vulnerable patients are not discharged into a cold, damp home.

As part of the hospital discharge process patients will receive an assessment of the care and support needed after they leave hospital. In addition to the provision of domiciliary care and reablement support this may include necessary adaptation to a patient’s home. However, while this may include minor adaptations, such as bathroom grab rails, it would not include the provision of home insulation and heating or the treatment of damp.