THANKS to Welsh Government funding and the fantastic work of Care and Repair, many older or disabled people in Monmouthshire can stay in their own homes in comfort and security says Monmouth Labour's Parliamentary candidate Ruth Jones.

She was speaking after visiting Mrs Julie Payton from Raglan whose home was fitted with a stair lift just before Christmas.

Mrs Payton said: "I was in hospital with leg and balance problems but was feeling better and felt ready to go home.

"It would not have possible for me to spend Christmas with my family if Care and Repair had not been able to arrange for a stair lift to be fitted in my home.

"I shall always be grateful to Care and Repair for their very quick response to an urgent problem'.

Mrs Payton benefitted from the Intermediate Care Fund, a £50m investment in services funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Care and Repair.

The aim is to ease pressure on the NHS by preventing unnecessary admissions and delayed discharges from hospital or residential care.

This service is for people who are in hospital awaiting discharge, have recently been discharged from hospital or are at risk of being admitted to hospital or into a care home.

Ruth Jones said: "The Intermediate Care Fund enables health, housing and social services to help people like Mrs Payton to be discharged into their own homes when they might otherwise have to stay in hospital.

This Welsh Government initiative is not available to health and social service clients over the border in England. It is a good example of the health, housing and social services in Monmouthshire working together to make a real difference to people's lives."

Care and Repair provides a free, comprehensive home improvement and advisory service to older and disabled people in Wales.

The service offers free, impartial advice on home repairs and alterations and helps people select reputable contractors

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Care and Repair services can contact them through Melin Homes at http://www.melinhomes.co">www.melinhomes.co.

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