The 2019-20 Scottish Budget was approved by MSPs last week.

Sarah Boyack, SFHA head of public affairs, said: “While SFHA welcomes the allocation of £825 million of investment in affordable housing, we are deeply disappointed that adaptations funding has effectively been frozen for the last seven years. The number of people requiring their homes to be adapted to enable them to live healthier, more independent lives has increased substantially.

“A recent SFHA member survey revealed that half way through the year, many housing associations run out of the vital funding required to install adaptations for people who need them. This must change, as it is a classic example of effective preventative spend that needs to be significantly increased.

“Falls cost the NHS £500,000 per day. A handrail and additional lighting that could help prevent a fall costs around £500. Pressure on our NHS will only start to decrease when we invest in prevention.”