Posted 13.10.14
Highly vulnerable and chronically unwell homeless people are being overlooked by England's local authorities' health plans and face barriers to accessing even basic healthcare, says a new report.
The report, 'Needs to Know', by St Mungo's Broadway and Homeless Link, found that, despite 73% of homeless people having a physical health problem, some of the most vulnerable are being left out of the planning and commissioning of healthcare services.
The audit of 50 Health and Wellbeing Boards which looked at Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWSs), where local authorities outline their health priorities, found that about two thirds (64%) of JSNAs made no mention of single homeless people and seven (14%) made no mention of homeless people at all.
Moreover, in local authorities with high levels of homelessness, 68% of JSNAs did not give single homeless people a high priority when assessing health needs, despite the often severe health issues faced by this group.
The 'Needs to Know' report also highlights specific barriers to accessing care that homeless people face. These include:
There are, however, examples of local authorities which are addressing these issues and improving access to care for single homeless people. Newly revised guidance from St Mungo's Broadway and Homeless Link gives practical advice on how to include homeless people's needs in JSNAs.
