Council admits demand exceeds supply as housing issues contribute to hospital discharge delays

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has acknowledged that there is not enough suitable accessible housing in the county to meet demand, with more than 400 people currently waiting for accommodation that meets their needs.

The admission came in response to questions from The Pembrokeshire Herald about housing, health and accessibility in Pembrokeshire.

The council revealed that 403 people are currently registered on the Pembrokeshire Accessible Housing Register waiting for accessible social housing.

Of those, 81% are in the highest-priority gold band, while 62% require one-bedroom accessible accommodation.

The authority also disclosed that 111 cases are currently awaiting occupational therapy assessment through to approval of assessed works under Disabled Facilities Grants and discretionary disabled assistance grants.

The figures highlight growing pressure on housing services in a county with an ageing population and increasing demand for homes that can accommodate people with disabilities, mobility problems and long-term health conditions.

A council spokesperson said: “Within Pembrokeshire, we recognise that there are challenges around unsuitable housing, often linked with an ageing housing stock across all tenures of accommodation.

“We recognise that poor and inaccessible housing can be a contributing factor to ill health and increased demand on housing, health and social care services.”

Hospital discharge concerns

The council also confirmed that housing-related issues can affect hospital discharge planning.

Officials said there had been an increase in housing-related discharge delays in recent years, often because people leaving hospital require home adaptations or alternative accommodation that better suits their needs following changes in their health or mobility.

The spokesperson said: “There are concerns related to housing-related delays which impact hospital discharge planning locally.

“There has been an increase in housing related delays due to a range of factors, including the need for suitable accommodation following changes in an individual’s health or functioning, which subsequently can lead to a need for home adaptations, or alternative accessible accommodation sourced.”

The council stressed that housing-related factors still represent a relatively small proportion of overall discharge delays in Pembrokeshire.

Shortage recognised

Asked whether enough suitable housing exists locally for older residents and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, the council accepted that current provision falls short of demand.

The spokesperson said: “Given the numbers we have on our Accessible Housing Register as well as the ageing population in the county, we acknowledge that there is insufficient suitable accessible housing to currently meet demand.”

The authority said the issue has already been identified within the Local Housing Market Assessment 2023 and the Pembrokeshire Housing Strategy 2024-2027.

Working to improve provision

The council said its Occupational Therapy Service works closely with housing providers across Pembrokeshire to assess needs and support the delivery of appropriate housing solutions, including adaptations to existing homes and the development of adapted properties.

For social housing tenants requiring adaptations, needs are assessed by occupational therapists, with work either carried out by landlords or, where necessary, alternative accommodation sought.

The authority also said that new social housing developments are designed to meet Lifetime Homes standards under Welsh Government housing requirements.

Housing and social care teams work together to help shape the type and design of new homes being developed in the county, using information from the Accessible Housing Register to identify future demand.

The comments come amid growing national concern over the impact of unsuitable housing on health, independence and demand for public services, particularly as Wales’ population continues to age.

This is a cleaner local government/housing story that stands on its own and avoids repeating the earlier Welsh Government/NHS-focused piece.

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL will meet on Monday (Jun 22), with councillors due to consider a range of governance, financial and community matters.

The meeting will be held at the Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets Unit, Unit A, Havens Head Business Park, at 6:00pm.

Before the main agenda, councillors will receive a presentation from Mr A Harries, Development Officer for Mid and West Wales at One Voice Wales, on the General Power of Competence.

The power allows qualifying town and community councils in Wales to do anything an individual may generally do, provided it is not prohibited by law. It is intended to give councils greater flexibility in delivering local services and projects.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to ask questions during a ten-minute public question and answer session.

Councillors will also receive updates from the Mayor, reports on councillor engagements and community activities, and feedback from representatives on outside bodies.

Items on the agenda include the approval of minutes from the council meeting held on June 8, reports from the Estates Group and Social Media Group, and a report on a Meeting Owl 3 video conferencing system.

The council is also due to consider the appointment of the chair of the Finance, Governance and Projects Committee, which was deferred from the previous full council meeting.

Other business includes a report on health and safety requirements for Milford Haven Town Council, representation on an outside body as an additional community governor at Gelliswick VC School, and financial matters including the May 2026 schedule of accounts and bank reconciliation.

Remote access to the meeting can be provided to councillors and members of the public on request.

TWELVE new vehicles have been bought by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to replace ageing fleet vehicles, including one said to be more than 17 years old.

The Authority confirmed the vehicles have been purchased outright, rather than leased, and funded through a Welsh Government capital grant.

The new fleet includes six hybrid Toyota Hilux vehicles for wardens and rangers, four electric pool cars for staff business travel, an electric minibus for volunteer groups and engagement work, and an electric van for Carew Castle.

The Authority said the vehicles were bought to replace older vehicles, not to expand the fleet.

A spokesperson said the organisation had been reducing its fleet over the past 12 months to save money and improve efficiency.

They added that the older leased vehicles were being returned at the end of their lease terms, while owned vehicles were either part-exchanged or sent to auction.

The Authority said electric, hybrid and lower-cost options were considered as part of the procurement process.

The procurement was carried out through a Welsh Government framework and Crown Commercial Services.

Asked how the purchase represented value for money during wider public sector financial pressures, the Authority said renewing existing leases would have cost nearly three times as much as the previous lease.

It also said the lower-emission vehicles would be cheaper to run, with electric vehicles able to be charged from Authority buildings.

The vehicles include six hybrid Toyota Hiluxes, four electric pool cars made by MG and Toyota, one Toyota electric minibus, and one Toyota electric van.