Trust says no to ‘NHS Airbnb’ after outcry

A HOSPITAL has backed down over plans to offer homeowners £1,000 a month to host recuperating patients in their spare rooms.

Start-up company Carerooms has been in talks with NHS trusts and councils in Essex to link up members of the public with patients who have had a minor procedure, such as a knee operation, but who live alone wthout support.

But after a backlash about the safety risks of such schemes, Southend Hospital in Essex said it has “no intention... to support the pilot at this time”.

This week it emerged that the company was recruiting “hosts”, who do not need any previous care experience, promising up to £50 a night for putting up people recuperating from a hospital stay.

Yesterday Labour’s shadow social care minister Barbara Keeley, branded the idea as “terrifying”. She said there were “clear safety risks” with placing responsibility for patients with strangers, saying the pilot was a sign social care was in crisis. Now the hospital linked to the scheme has said it has no immediate plans to take part. Tom Abell, deputy chief executive of Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There is no intention and there never has been for the hospital to support this pilot at this time.

“We will never compromise the safety and quality of care for patients and we will not support this pilot until the necessary safeguarding and quality arrangements are in place and there has been full engagement and discussion with our local communities on the proposal.”

It had previously said that it was exploring the idea, which the trust’s managing director said was part of a programme co-designed by NHS England.

Last night, NHS England said the idea was “a long way from being implemented”.

Carerooms had offered fees of up to £1,000 a month for hosts to “welcome the patient, cook three microwave meals a day and offer conversation,” the Health Service Journal reported.