Building to doctor's orders

A health and housing project credited with cutting hospital admissions has taken top honours at the annual Health Innovation Awards.

The four-year-old Healthy Housing scheme of Housing New Zealand and three northern district health boards aims to cut the spread of infectious diseases by cutting overcrowding.

The Tuizailala family of Mangere are among the thousands of state housing tenants to have benefited from the scheme, through warmer and drier homes and by having more space. Their three-bedroom home had two bedrooms and a second bathroom added, plus insulation in the ceiling, under the floor and in the walls.

Sela Tuizailala, who lives there with her husband and seven children, aged 9 to 21, said yesterday it was more comfortable following the renovations.

The project was one of 24 finalists in the awards, sponsored by Telecom and set up by the Health Ministry and the Accident Compensation Corporation to promote innovation and the sharing of ideas in health, disability and rehabilitation services.

The Healthy Housing scheme was started in 2001 because researchers had found that household crowding was the leading risk factor for meningococcal disease among Auckland children. About 3200 families have been assessed for the project, which operates in a number of poor parts of south and east Auckland and Northland.

They are given health advice, the suitability of their home is assessed and, for 2800 families, Housing NZ has made changes, from installing steam-extractor fans to building new houses.

Public health nurses teach families about health risks and put them in touch with health clinics.

Housing NZ has spent $66.2 million on the project. Health agencies are in no doubt the scheme is keeping people healthier, reporting a 33 per cent lower rate of hospital admissions among those involved than in a comparison group.

Counties Manukau health board spokeswoman Lauren Young said the project was expected to produce a reduction in the diseases of poverty.

"Decent housing is just a basic need of good health.

"With people in warm, decent housing, with good ventilation, the proper number of bedrooms and not overcrowded, the infectious diseases rate is going to drop."

Since 2001, Housing NZ has helped 2800 families on the Healthy Housing programme. Work included:

* Extending 286 homes.

* Insulating about 1300.

* Fitting ventilation in nearly 2000.

* Installing heating in 389.