Under the terms of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, social services departments are required to help with the provision of aids to daily living for disabled persons discharged from hospital, and with adaptations to their homes. The study aims to establish the extent to which social services departments in the catchment area of three London hospitals are fulfilling these responsibilities and to investigate delays in provision, why such delays occur and how they might be avoided. Other complementary services such as home helps and meals-on-wheels are examined.