EXTRA funding is on hand to help find accommodation for people who are admitted to hospital without a permanent home to return to this winter.

The Dudley Council cabinet have approved plans for a housing officer to be appointed to Russells Hall Hospital's discharge team to ensure people have the advice and support they need and a home to go to, while easing pressure on the hospital.

The new housing officer will support people by finding immediately available housing options, so they can avoid an unnecessary lengthy stay in hospital, meaning beds are freed for people who need them.

The new post will be funded through a one-off winter pressures grant from the government.

Councillor John Martin, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "With forecasts suggesting we’re going to have a harsher winter this year, our colleagues at the hospital are bracing themselves for a very busy period.

"We need to work with them and do what we can to support them and provide resilience in a system that is under increasing pressure.

"This extra funding will allow us to bolster what we’re already doing to reduce delayed discharges at the hospital and free up hospital beds."

He added: "Moving forward we will need to think about how these additional services can be funded and sustained long term beyond the government’s one-off funding.”

Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing, continued: "This is an important and practical step that will really make a difference for the better and I am really pleased we’ll now have one of our housing officers on the front line, supporting the NHS by making sure people are aware of their rights and housing options.

"We don’t want to see anyone homeless or at risk of losing their home at any time of year and this is why we have a homeless team that offers advice and support 24/7, often in emergency situations.”

Karen Kelly, chief operating officer for The Dudley Group, said: "We work closely and collaboratively with our healthcare partners and welcome this extra support from Dudley Council for patients without a permanent home.

"Our discharge team start putting plans in place as soon as patients are admitted to hospital to ensure they get home or to suitable accommodation as soon as they are medically fit."

She added: "It is very important that patients and their families do all they can to help with these arrangements. There is extensive evidence to show that patients recover much more quickly out of hospital and in familiar surroundings.”