Published in March 2020, this report from The King's Fund on health and care for people who sleep rough focusses on reducing barriers people face to accessing healthcare services and on commissioning appropriate services. The report argues that to improve health outcomes for people sleeping rough we need local authorities to team up with charities and community services; we need both a population health approach and a place-based approach; we need co-production with people with lived experience of sleeping rough; and we need staff working with this group to be properly recruited and supported.
Good practice case study: Edinburgh Access Practice outreach service
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This HCV Action good practice case study focuses on Edinburgh Access Practice's outreach service, offering testing and treatment for hepatitis C to the homeless population. In the period from March 2014 to December 2016, of the 80 referrals received, 59 patients attended (70%) and 25 started treatment, compared with typical hospital clinical attendance rates of 30-50%. From January 2017 to June 2018 use of DAAs have enabled a further 52 patients to receive treatment at the EAP over the course of just 18 months. Many of the SVR tests results are awaited but early indications demonstrate good adherence and response rates.
