Transcript homelessness - Bradford VTS

HOMELESSNESS
Aims of the session
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To increase GP awareness of the homeless
Objectives
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To learn more about the scale of the problem
To understand the types of people that become
homeless
To be able to describe the health needs of the
homeless
Understand the relevance of this topic to us as GPs
Learn more about local services
MRCGP 2002

Who are the homeless?
 Describe their health needs.
 What are the difficulties in accessing care.
 What measures could be taken to improve
their health.
Who are the homeless?
The Overt
Have no place of abode of their own
Sleep on the streets
The Covert (= “Hidden Homelessness”)
Have no place of abode of their own
But sleep not on the streets but at various places eg
friends,
Physical Problems in the
Homeless

TB, and hepatitis
 Poor condition of teeth, and feet, skin
diseases
 Respiratory problems
 Injuries following violence and infections
 Malnutrition
Psychological Problems in the
Homeless

Serious mental illnesses such as
schizophrenia
 Depression
 Personality disorders
 Affects of abuse, sexual/physical/mental,
victims of torture particularly asylum
seekers
Social Problems in the
Homeless
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Drug dependency
Alcohol dependency
Police/probation problems
Relationship problems/lack of support or families
Unemployment
Lack of education
Prostitution
What are the difficulties of Homeless
People in accessing care?
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Registration problems
 Unable to receive hospital appointments
 Move from area to area, no continuity of
care
 No transport
 Chaotic lifestyle, difficult time keeping
Measures to improve health in
the Homeless

No need for address to register
 Involve voluntary sector
 Have a lead person in PCT
 Train health care professionals eg: increase
awareness of needs
 Specialist service provision