The National Housing Federation has welcomed the publication of the Government’s white paper 'Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS'.
The paper pledges to focus on personalised care, which encourages strong joint arrangements and local partnerships.
There are also new commitments to ring-fence the public health budget, and allocate this money to reflect relative population health outcomes, with incentives to promote action to reduce health inequalities.
The Federation has just launched its new report, ‘Health and housing: worlds apart?’ which outlines housing care and support solutions to health challenges.
Through this report and elsewhere, the Federation seeks to champion the role of housing associations and promote collaboration across sectors to find creative ways for the needs of vulnerable individuals to be met.
Commenting on the white paper, Helen Williams, assistant director at the National Housing Federation, said:
"The National Housing Federation welcomes the announcement that local authorities are to promote the joining up of local NHS services, social care and health improvement.
"Now, more than ever, is the time for organisations, individuals, commissioners and government departments to look beyond traditional sector boundaries and make better use of public money to meet people’s needs.
"By working with housing organisations to deliver preventative work, local health bodies can tackle inequalities, improve the health of their communities, and save money.
"With an estimated £315m being saved from NHS budgets from investment in housing related support services, there are tangible opportunities for the NHS in working with local housing partners.
“To achieve real efficiency gains, as the white paper aims to do, we must grab these opportunities with both hands."
For more information, please contact Emily Bird, policy leader, on 0207 067 1180 /emilyb@housing.org.uk.