A leading homelessness charity has called for health services to “break the cycle” after it was revealed that homeless people are 60 times more likely to visit A&E than the general population.
Caroline Bernard, head of policy and communications at Homeless Link, told The Big Issue insisted that the findings from the University of Birmingham study shows the barriers that homeless people face in accessing primary care.
The research found that mental health problems and substance abuse are widespread among the homeless population. A high prevalence of infectious hepatitis C was also identified.
We need to break the cycle. Better local partnership working between health and homelessness specialists will help those experiencing homelessness to have their health needs met
Researchers also found that almost one in three homeless people have attended A&E in the last 12 months, making them 60 times more likely to be admitted than the public at large.
Responding to the findings, Bernard said that Homeless Link’s own research reaffirmed the use of A&E by people experiencing homelessness.
In 2014, the charity found that 35 per cent of homeless people had been to A&E, and just over a quarter had been admitted to hospital within six weeks. Bernard said that people experiencing homelessness faced barriers accessing primary care and are often forced to use A&E when their condition becomes acute.
