HOME IMPROVEMENTS PREVENT HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

Governments could relieve the pressure on the NHS by investing in upgrades to social housing, according to a new study carried out by researchers at Swansea University. http://www.swansea.ac.uk/

 

The study suggests that making home improvements could help to considerably reduce emergency hospital admissions.

 

Cold houses are thought to cause 33 per cent of respiratory and 40 per cent of cardiovascular diseases.  An estimated 12.8 excess deaths per 100,000 occur due to living in inadequately heated houses.

 

The researchers worked with data from residents of nearly 9,000 council homes in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, between 2007 and 2016. Residents received improvements to their homes, including new heating and electrical systems, wall and loft insulation, new kitchens and bathrooms, windows and doors, and garden paths.

 

Hospital admission data were linked to information provided by Carmarthenshire County Council on each of the homes that received improvements.  Researchers then compared the number of hospital admissions for tenants who lived in homes with the improvements to those whose homes had not yet been improved. They found substantial decreases in the number of hospital admissions for those in the improved homes.

 

Findings showed a substantial decrease of up to 39 per cent in emergency admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, as well as fall and burn injuries.  This was for tenants aged 60 and over, but there were similar results for all ages. Prescribed asthma medications and GP visits also dropped for residents of all ages.

 

DR SARAH RODGERS, PROFESSOR AT SWANSEA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, WHO LED THE STUDY, SAID: “Our findings showed that housing upgrades could reduce the strain on the NHS and release beds for planned admissions.”

 

 

CLLR LINDA EVANS, CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER FOR HOUSING, SAID:  “We have already used the heath evaluation results and study team recommendations to update our development plans. We encourage the adoption of the recommendations by local authorities around the UK and further afield.  Making small changes in housing policy improves health, which also carries social, economic and environmental benefits for all.”

 

DR HELEN WALTERS, NIHR CLINICAL ADVISOR AND CONSULTANT IN PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE SAID: “NIHR is always keen to fund research into key determinants of health, such as housing. These are important results that can inform and help to support effective and efficient decision making for those in local government.”

 

For further information on this study, which is funded by the NIHR,

visit: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/phr/09300602/#/

and https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/phr06080/#/abstract

 

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR): improving the health and wealth of the nation through research.

 

Established by the Department of Health and Social Care, the NIHR:

 

• funds high quality research to improve health

 

• trains and supports health researchers

 

• provides world-class research facilities

 

• works with the life sciences industry and charities to

benefit all

 

• involves patients and the public at every step

 

For further information, visit the NIHR website www.nihr.ac.uk [3]

MAE GWELLA TAI YN ATAL MYNEDIADAU I’R YSBYTY

 

Gallai llywodraethau leddfu’r pwysau ar y GIG drwy fuddsoddi mewn gwelliannau i dai cymdeithasol, yn ôl astudiaeth newydd gan ymchwilwyr ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe.

 

Mae’r astudiaeth yn awgrymu y gallai gwelliannau i dai helpu i leihau derbyniadau brys i ysbytai’n sylweddol.

 

Credir mai tai oer sy’n gyfrifol am 33% o glefydau resbiradol a 40% o glefydau cardiofasgwlaidd.  Amcangyfrifir bod dros 12.8 o farwolaethau y gellir eu hosgoi ym mhob 100,000 yn digwydd o ganlyniad i fyw mewn tai heb wresogi digonol.

 

Bu’r ymchwilwyr yn gweithio gyda data o breswylwyr bron 9,000 o dai cyngor yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, de Cymru, rhwng 2007 a 2016. Gwnaed gwelliannau i gartrefi’r preswylwyr, gan gynnwys systemau gwresogi a thrydanol newydd, insiwleiddio llofftydd a waliau, ceginau ac ystafelloedd ymolchi, ffenestri a drysau a llwybrau gardd newydd.

 

Cafodd data am dderbyniadau i’r ysbyty eu cysylltu â gwybodaeth a ddarparwyd gan Gyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin ar gyfer yr holl dai lle gwnaed gwelliannau.  Yna cymharodd yr ymchwilwyr nifer y derbyniadau i’r ysbyty ar gyfer preswylwyr y tai lle gwnaed gwelliannau â phreswylwyr tai nad oedd wedi’u gwella. Datgelwyd gostyngiadau sylweddol yn nifer y derbyniadau i’r ysbyty ar gyfer preswylwyr tai lle gwnaed gwelliannau.

 

Dangosodd y canfyddiadau ostyngiad sylweddol, o hyd at 39%, mewn derbyniadau brys ar gyfer clefydau cardiofasgwlaidd a resbiradol, yn ogystal ag anafiadau cwympo a llosgi.

 

Roedd hyn ymhlith tenantiaid 60 oed ac yn hŷn, ond cafwyd canlyniadau tebyg ar gyfer pobl o bob oedran. Gwelwyd gostyngiad hefyd mewn presgripsiynau ar gyfer meddyginiaethau asthma ac ymweliadau â meddygon teulu ymhlith preswylwyr o bob oedran.

 

Meddai Dr Sarah Rodgers, yr Athro yn Ysgol Feddygaeth Prifysgol Abertawe a arweiniodd yr astudiaeth: “Dangosodd ein canfyddiadau y gallai gwelliannau tai leihau’r pwysau ar y GIG a rhyddhau gwelyau ar gyfer derbyniadau cynlluniedig.”

 

Meddai’r Cyng. Linda Evans, Aelod o Fwrdd Gweithredol Tai Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin, “Rydym eisoes wedi defnyddio canlyniadau’r gwerthusiad iechyd ac argymhellion tîm yr astudiaeth i ddiweddaru ein cynlluniau datblygu. Rydym yn annog awdurdodau lleol ledled y DU i fabwysiadu’r argymhellion hyn.  Mae newidiadau bach mewn polisi tai yn gwella iechyd, sy’n cynnig manteision cymdeithasol, economaidd ac amgylcheddol i bawb.”

 

Dywedodd Dr Helen Walters, Ymgynghorydd a ChynghoryddClinigol NIHR mewnMeddygaethIechydCyhoeddus:

 

“Mae NIHR bob amserynawyddus i ariannuymchwil i mewn i benderfynyddioniechyd, megistai. Mae’rrhainynganlyniadaupwysigsy’ngalluhysbysu a helpu i gefnogi’rrhaisy’ngwneudpenderfyniadau o fewnllywodraethleol i wneudhynnyyneffeithiol ac effeithlon.”

 

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am yr astudiaeth hon a ariennir gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ymchwil Iechyd, ewch i: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/phr/09300602/#/&https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/phr06080/#/abstract

 

SefydliadCenedlaetholdrosYmchwilIechyd (NIHR): gwellaiechyd a lles y genedldrwyymchwil.

 

SefydlwydganyrAdranIechyd a GofalCymdeithasol, mae’r NIHR:

 

• Ynariannuymchwil o ansawdduchel i wellaiechyd
• Ynhyfforddi ac yncefnogiymchwilwyriechyd
• Yndarparucyfleusterauymchwilo’rraddflaenaf
• Yngweithiogyda’rdiwydiantgwyddoraubywyd ac elusennauerbuddpawb
• Yncynnwyscleifiona’rcyhoeddymmhob cam Am fwy o wybodaeth, ewcharwefanNIHR www.nihr.ac.uk