Homeless outreach programme helps over 120 vulnerable patients

A joint homeless outreach initiative in Chelmsford has helped over 120 homeless and vulnerable patients to access healthcare services.

The programme, run by a partnership of NHS organisations, including Chelmer PCN and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), and charity Sanctus, launched in January 2024.

It is run out of the Sanctus Hub Centre every Wednesday, and offers advice, support and treatment from a GP, nurse practitioner, social prescriber or mental health practitioner to registered Sanctus service users.

Patients can receive health checks such as cancer screening, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, vaccinations and wound dressing.

Attendees are also able to register with a GP practice, either as a permanent or temporary resident, which is one of the barriers this population group faces to accessing care. Over 20 patients have done this so far after attending the service.

Since it’s launch, the programme has offered over 320 appointments, and the partnership has ambitions to open on multiple days in the future.

Georgina Morgan, Chelmer PCN manager, said: ‘This programme is important not only for clients, but also the NHS staff. It great to be able to talk to people and change lives in big and small ways. It has been one of the most rewarding and moving experiences I have had in my career.’

Dr Shahtab Chowdhury, local GP and clinical lead for NHS Mid and South Essex, said: ‘We know that homeless communities are less likely to report a physical health issue than the general public, including conditions that are usually associated with older age which just shows the impact homelessness has on their health. They also experience multiple barriers that prevents them from accessing the right care, including not being registered at a GP practice.

‘Through this important outreach service, we can bring healthcare to them, which will help us to help them improve their health and wellbeing and avoid future emergency hospital admissions.’

A patient who has used the service, called Mark, said if the programme was not there, he would ‘not bother’ to see a GP.

He said: ‘When I was recently feeling down there was someone there to listen to me. The thing is if the services wasn’t here, I wouldn’t bother trying to get to my own GP, but these people are friendly and understanding and as a result I felt listen and my mind was at ease.’

Emma Hughes, Sanctus CEO, added that it was ‘incredibly positive’ to see their vulnerable clients seeking medical advice and support.

‘It is of great benefit to service users to come into a safe and familiar environment to have all their healthcare needs met in a single location,’ she said.  

‘Service users feel heard, supported and cared for in a way that they do not normally experience. I would like to extend my thanks to Georgina and the team for bringing this important service to Sanctus and our vulnerable community.’