Lesley Dewhurst, Oxhop
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Transcript Lesley Dewhurst, Oxhop
Health and Homelessness
Effective interactions
Lesley Dewhurst
Chief Executive
Oxford Homeless
Pathways
Homelessness is BAD for health!
80% have one or more physical health
problem
70% have at least one mental health problem
40% will end up in A&E in any six month
period, and nearly a third will be admitted to
hospital
Yet health care is NOT prioritised by most
homeless people
So, what works?
Services must be accessible
Emphasis on preventative services
(screening and immunisation)
There must be a coherent network of
services across health, social care and
housing
Homelessness issues should be part of core
training for health professionals
Luther Street Medical Centre
Makes a huge difference to delivery of
effective health care to homeless people
Located in the heart of homeless services
Holistic approach, including:
Podiatry
Dentistry
Mental health
Substance misuse services
LSMC continued……….
Full health checks, including BBVs
Immunisation – Hep A and B, Flu
Periodic TB screening
Training module for medics
Partnership work
O’Hanlon House – staff encourage
registration on entry
Daily liaison with LSMC staff
Interaction with Street Services Outreach
team
PATHS project – enabling patients to attend
hospital and other medical appointments
Needle exchange at O’Hanlon House
Case study – Lizzie
Mid 30’s
Previous history of long term drug use – now on
Subutex script
Excessive alcohol use – liver problems
Brain injury – affecting vision and short term memory
Epilepsy
In and out of prison all her life.
Very chaotic
Lizzie……how partnership worked
Slow but sure approach
Putting responsibility back onto Lizzie
Presenting options and highlighting risks
Liaising with LSMC
Being there at the right time - DETOX
Coordination of hospital admission and discharge
Still doing well in Simon House – clean and dry
Recent research (Homeless Link) tells
us…
Oversight of local H & WB Board is essential
H & WB Board must work with housing and
related support agencies – integration not
competition
Some practical steps
Homeless people’s needs should be included
in every JSNA, H&WB strategy and
commissioning plans (Health Needs Audit
Toolkit)
Service users can be involved in this process
(Homelessness and Health Peer Activity
Toolkit)
Final message
Homeless people can
be very expensive if
problems are not
nipped in the bud
Keep us involved! We
want to help with the
planning and delivery of
health services