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Rough sleepers in A&E department to be given housing advice

Homeless people attending A&E at a Scottish hospital will be given specialist housing advice as part of a new scheme delivered by Shelter Scotland and Fife Health and Social Care Partnership.

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Picture: Getty
Picture: Getty
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Rough sleepers in A&E department to be given housing advice through pilot scheme #ukhousing

The new scheme at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy hopes to improve the lives of patients with multiple and complex needs, while also saving NHS resources by getting the right advice to homeless patients who might otherwise not seek out help with housing problems.

Shelter’s research shows that homeless people are 3.8 times more likely to attend A&E and two times more likely to be admitted to hospital than people who are living at home.

Two specialist advisors will be based at the hospital in Fife during the two-year trial, which launches on 23 April.

Health and housing partnerships have been trialled in Greater Manchester, where housing providers have been piloting placing staff in hospitals to tackle the problem of delayed patient discharges.

Alison Watson, deputy director of Shelter Scotland, said: “People experiencing homelessness are more likely to suffer from ill health, and the lack of stable, suitable accommodation is a big factor in this. A good home is fundamental to our health and well-being.

She added: “This project aims to demonstrate how improved links between healthcare and housing can deliver better health for patients and be more cost-effective for the NHS by cutting the number of repeat visits.”

Tricia Marwick, chair at NHS Fife, said: “We cannot underestimate the value this will bring to people who potentially could be facing an uncertain or unstable future when leaving hospital. Frontline staff will benefit too, as they are reassured that the person leaving the hospital door will go into a more secure and stable environment which they can hopefully call home.”

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