PATIENT SAFETY
They also report low levels of digital confidence compared to the general population. Those who sleep rough often don’t own a smartphone or tablet and if they do, they run out of data too regularly or are unable to get a data contract and experience inadequate access to or exclusion from public Wi-Fi.
Homeless people are more likely to seek help and support with getting online if it’s provided in their own environment, by people they know and trust. Seaview gained the trust of the homeless people by being there when they needed them. By improving their health literacy and empowering them to take control of their own healthcare, the users became more open and willing to trust and re-engage with their GP services.
Digital participation
This project is part of the NHS’ Widening Digital Participation Programme (WDP), which aims to make digital health services and information accessible to everyone – particularly the most excluded people in society.
WDP aims to help thousands of people across the UK to boost their digital health skills, as one in 10 people in England lack the confidence and skills to fully benefit from digital, and in turn from the improvements to their health. The programme is focusing on those who are socially excluded and so are most likely to suffer from health inequalities. A total of 20 digital inclusion pathfinders are being run across the country in partnership with the charity Good Things Foundation to test new ways to help people access digital tools to improve their health. The pathfinders are partnerships between local organisations including Clinical Commissioning Groups, local authorities and community groups in areas of high deprivation and digital exclusion. The evidence and insights gathered through these pilot projects have been developed into practical ‘How to Guides’ that can be shared with digital teams in the NHS and across Government to ensure all digital health services and tools are inclusive and accessible to everyone – particularly the most excluded.
Homelessness Reduction Act
On 1 October 2018, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced a new legal duty on specified public services to refer service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local housing authority. For health services the impact is on NHS
Trusts and Foundation Trusts in the provision of any of the following NHS health services: l Accident and emergency services in a hospital
l Argent treatment centres l In-patient treatment (of any kind).
The basic legal requirement for a referral is the inclusion of: l The individual’s contact details
l The individual’s consent l The agreed reason for the referral (that they are homeless or threatened with homelessness).
l General guidance on the duty to refer has been been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Guidance for NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts
Specified public services now have a legal duty to refer service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local housing authority. For health services the impact is on NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts in the provision of any of the following NHS health services: l Accident and emergency services in a hospital
l Urgent treatment centres l In-patient treatment (of any kind). The referring service must have the person’s
A total of 20 digital inclusion pathfinders are being run across the country in partnership with the charity Good Things Foundation to test new ways to help people access digital tools to improve their health.
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WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM
consent and the service user will need to decide which local housing authority they are referred to, mirroring the way people choose which local housing authority to seek help from when approaching directly for housing assistance. Health services already support and refer individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as part of their safeguarding responsibilities and normal daily work. The duty to refer seeks to extend the good practice that already exists in many local areas across England and aims to ensure services are working together to prevent homelessness.
Potentially homeless individuals
The following factors would indicate that an individual may be threatened with homelessness and should be enquired about: l Problems with debt, particularly rent or mortgage arrears
l Problems with a landlord, being threatened with eviction or served notice to leave
l Being a victim of domestic abuse, or other forms of violence, threats or intimidation
l Approaching discharge from hospital, armed forces or release from custody, with no accommodation available
l Having previously been in care, the armed forces or in prison.
Priority need for accommodation
The following categories have a priority need for accommodation: l A pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside
l A person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside
l A person who is vulnerable because of old age, mental illness, learning
MAY 2019
© 2015 Ronald Hudson
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