Today, Wednesday 16th March, the National Institute
for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published for the
first-time guidelines on how health,
social care and housing services can work together to better meet
the health needs of people experiencing homelessness.
The guidelines include:
- A recommendation that services should be designed and
delivered in a way that reduces barriers for people who are
homeless to access and engage with health and social care
services such as flexible opening and appointment times,
and not penalising people for missing appointments.
- Ensure that accommodation is provided based upon people’s
health and social care needs so that they are provided with a
stable home that aids long-term recovery.
- Encourages health and social care services to be taken to
people experiencing homelessness, by providing healthcare in
settings such as on the street, hostels or day centres.
Responding to the guidance Director of Policy and
External Affairs, Kiran Ramchandani, said: “We strongly
welcome the new NICE guidelines which, for the first time, lays
out exactly how people experiencing homelessness will be better
supported to access and engage with health care services.
“For decades people who homeless have experienced some of the
most damaging, unfair and completely avoidable differences in
their physical and mental health compared to the rest of society.
Now with these guidelines in place, the NHS can rethink their
services to ensure that people no longer fail to get the
appropriate care they need - not only to improve their health but
ultimately leave homelessness behind.
“It’s now over to the NHS, social care and local councils to
implement these guidelines and we look forward to working with
the health and social care sector as we all work towards ending
homelessness for good.”
