We know there are around 1,430 people with disability stuck in hospitals around Australia who no longer have a medical need to be there. These people wait an average of 160 days to be discharged from hospital and to resume their lives.
The Housing Brokerage Service, renamed the Hospital to Home (HTH) service, has continued working with the Victorian and South Australian governments to implement 2 innovative projects to reduce discharge delays and free up much needed hospital beds.
The Hospital to Home service has now re-opened for referrals nationally.
We are accepting referrals for NDIS participants who are stuck in hospital with a housing barrier to discharge. The focus of our service is to find suitable housing for NDIS participants that aligns with both their needs and their preferences, so they can leave hospital.
The Victorian project began in October 2021 and has assisted more than 140 patients since it began. The initial pilot concluded successfully on 30 June, and we are delighted the Victorian Government has committed additional funding for the Pathways to Home program to continue throughout 2022-23.
This is an exciting development for the sector, and the Summer Foundation’s Hospital to Home service continues to play an integral role.
The South Australian project began in February 2022 and received just over 50 referrals. While the program will not be extended by the South Australian Government this year, the HTH service will continue working with these participants until appropriate long-term housing outcomes have been identified.