GPs spending time treating illness and injury because of inaccessible homes
Scottish GPs spent the equivalent of four and a half working months (939 hours) in January dealing with disabled and older patients because of injuries and illnesses caused from living in inaccessible homes, according to charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.
Thousands of disabled and older people are trapped in unsuitable homes and unable to move around freely in Scotland, says the charity.
A poll of over 1,000 UK GPs found that 96% of Scottish GPs have patients with health problems related to inaccessible homes.
The charity also found that 3% of GPs total caseloads relate to inaccessible housing.
If true of all GPs in Scotland, Leonard Cheshire Disability estimates the health cost to be the equivalent of around £27.3 million every year.
Many people are confined to a limited number of downstairs rooms and face the daily nightmare of washing in their kitchen, sleeping in their living room, using a commode for a toilet and not being able to get in and out of their front doors.
Inaccessible housing can lead to physical injuries, such as trips and falls, as well as mental health problems.
Along with campaigners, the charity is to hand a petition in to the Scottish Parliament today (Wednesday) calling for them to improve the provision of disabled friendly housing in Scotland.
Living inaccessibly
StephanThomson, 30, has cerebral palsy and lives with his partner in Inverness. Heused to use crutches but now depends on an electric wheelchair which means hehas to rely on his partner more for help. The number of visits Stephan makes tohis GP is increasing largely due to problems with his home.
“I have had lots of accidents around my place. I once fell out of my wheelchair on to the pavement outside trying to negotiate the step, and on a separate occasion fell so badly I damaged my neck and lost feeling in my legs for a week.
"I also once fell in my bathroom and had to wait 13 hours for someone to come and help me. I have since had a call button installed but I found that
hard as I’m so used to being independent.
“Our bungalow has some adaptions which help me to get around, such as an electric door, but inside is not specifically designed for wheelchair users. The bathroom is not big enough for a chair so I can’t close the door and have privacy. It stops people coming around – particularly my friends who use wheelchairs.”
Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: “For many of us, our homes are a haven; places where we look forward to relaxing with our friends and family. For many thousands of disabled and older people, their homes are a danger to their health and wellbeing.
“It is shocking that GPs are spending precious time on injuries and illnesses directly related to inaccessible homes at a time when there’s overwhelming pressure on our health care system.
“And yet it would cost absolutely nothing for the government to require all new homes to be built to accessible standards.”
As part of its Home Truths campaign the charity is calling on the government to ensure all new homes are built so they are easy to adapt (known as Lifetime Homes) if people become disabled.
The charity also wants 10% of large developments to be fully wheelchair accessible so that disabled people can live independently and safely.
Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, added: “GPs treat the whole person, so we are only too aware that inaccessible or inadequate housing can have a negative impact on our patients’ physical and mental health.
“We want what is best for our patients, and taking steps to ensure that they can live safely, in their homes, without constant fear of an accident will not only be good for them, but - as this research shows – will help reduce pressure on general practice and the NHS as a whole.”
