Client: NHS Homes Alliance 
Date: 2023 
Services: Research 

Housing is a critical part of the current NHS staffing crisis and surplus National Health Service land should be used to deliver homes for health and social care workers to support staff retention and recruitment.

Future Places Studio co-authored the White Paper titled ‘A People Driven Approach; Delivering NHS Homes’ which sets out a vision for using the NHS estate to build affordable, high-quality, and sustainable homes near to hospitals and clinics. Thus, boosting NHS and social care staff retention and recruitment, ultimately improving the quality of care and providing better services for all.

When asked, 68% of NHS staff surveyed said that the lack of affordable housing would be a key driver in deciding to leave their current employment within the next two years*. NHS Trusts currently report a shortfall of more than 154,000 staff, which is set to worsen amid growing demand for health care. Reports suggest the figure could rise to 570,000 by 2036.

Using the landmark Naylor Report (2017) as its starting point, the White Paper recommends that developments are built based on the specific recruitment and staff retention needs of local health and social care services, according to NHS Trusts and ICBs, and provide different types of homes that work for the required staff at all levels of primary, secondary and social care; from junior doctors, nurses and social care workers, to porters and cleaners.

Email jack@futureplacesstudio.co.uk for a copy of the paper.  

Image credit: Ollie Sharpe.