Healthwatch Homelessness Report - what happens when you are discharged from hospital?
At the beginning of 2022 we carried out a study on Homelessness and hospital discharge. Our aim was to understand the experience of hospital admissions and discharge of homeless people and the ease of accessing post discharge care in the community.
Report findings:
· We gathered verbal feedback from over 60 homeless or at risk of homelessness people in Leicester and Leicestershire.
· 23 people completed our online survey.
· 29 staff completed our survey for NHS and primary care service providers.
· We conducted online and telephone meetings with homeless services and attended drop-in sessions collating individual and group feedback.
· We found that all the housing authorities had clear accessible information available on the Homeless Reduction Act 2017.
· We found that housing people with Mental Health issues were more complex and ready accommodation was not always available meaning they were often placed in a Bed and Breakfast which was not a suitable solution.
· There is a lack of private or social housing available especially in more rural areas leaving people in temporary accommodation for longer.
· Many people felt that hospital staff treated them negatively because they were homeless.
· People felt there was a lack of support from NHS hospital staff who did not offer follow-up care or services on discharge. Few people were aware of a discharge plan or post-discharge care when they left the hospital.
· One of the key issues highlighted in the survey was the difficulty people had accessing GP appointments by telephone when they had limited phone credit and were unable to wait in the long telephone queues. The care they received at the practice however was rated positively.
· There was clear evidence in the survey that people were being discharged from the hospital without discussion on their housing status meaning their needs were not being met.
· Staff felt that most people are assessed and helped on discharge which shows the lack of communication between staff and patients which needs to be addressed.
Jackie Owen, Project Officer at Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire said:
"In talking to many professionals involved in homelessness services, it was evident that there was a great deal of passion and commitment to providing excellent services for people who are homeless, and this was reflected in the range of services available to support people. However, this did not always translate into action and there were many homeless people discharged from hospital who were not aware of any plan in place to manage their ongoing medical needs or address their homelessness. Communication was clearly an issue, and it is therefore hoped that this report will result in healthcare and homelessness services looking at ways in which this gap can be bridged so that homeless people have and are aware of a clear plan to address their health and housing needs upon discharge from hospital."
Read the full Report by clicking here
If you’re interested in helping raise awareness in your community, please get in touch with Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire at https://healthwatchll.com/ . We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We exist to ensure that people are at the heart of care. We listen to what people like about services, and what could be improved, and we share their views with those with the power to make change happen. We also help people find the information they need about services in their area.
Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire is provided by Engaging Communities Solution CIC. If you are a commissioner for an organisation that is looking for a provider of social research and consultations, local Healthwatch delivery, advocacy services, and community engagement, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us at https://www.weareecs.co.uk/contact-us, email contactus@weareecs.co.uk or call us on 0800 470 1518 for an initial chat.