ACUTE HOMELESS LIAISON SERVICE

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ACUTE HOMELESS LIAISON SERVICE
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Outcomes

• Create awareness of the issues relating to health
  and homelessness
• Gain knowledge of current legislation
• Overview of Acute Homeless Liaison Service
• The patients journey
• Discharge Protocols

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Homeless Presentations
Glasgow 10,500
Beds Provided 4,000
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Defining Homelessness Roofless, in secure
accommodation or involuntary sharing
accommodation Scottish Executive, 2001

• Sleeping rough
• Hostel
• BB
• Friends sofa
• Supported accom
• Drug/ Alcohol rehab
• Temporary furnished flat
• Familys floor

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ONS SURVEY Health Needs Assessment of
Homeless People

• 70 of those ages 24 - 34 have a drug dependence
• 54 have hazardous drinking
• 58 had a long standing physical health problem
• 6 probable psychosis
• 46 neurotic disorder
• 80 registered with GP while only 65 of those
  use their GP
• Commissioned by GGHB June 2000

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The measure of a countrys greatness should be
based on how well it cares for its most
vulnerable populations
Mahatma Ghandhi
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Legislation in context
Our National Health (2000)

• Health Homeless Guidance (2001)

• Partnership for Care (2003)

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THE TEAM
Diane Cassidy H Grade - G Grade to be
appointed Based in I.R.I.S. Department
(GRI) Covering the following sites Glasgow
Royal Infirmary Western Infirmary Stobhill
General Lightburn Gartnavel General Southern
General Victoria Infirmary Liz Leggat
Administrative Assistant North Division Based
in I.R.I.S. Department (GRI)
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Rationale for the Acute Homeless Liaison Service
Improve access and care pathways into and out of
hospital for Homeless people
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Acute Homeless Liaison ServiceGreater Glasgow NHS

• Aims Objectives
• Develop additional protocols regarding the
  attendance, admission and discharge arrangements
  for Homeless people across GGHB area.
• Raise awareness with staff of the issues relating
  to homelessness
• Redesign patient journey
• Develop information and resources
• Partnership with stakeholders
• To ensure equity of service

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Attendances Admissions
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GRI AE Presenting complaintsfrom 1st June 2004
to May 2005
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Drug and Alcohol Presentations (from recorded
admissions)
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The homeless patients journey through the health
care system
Injury/ill health
Avoidance/delay of dealing with problem
Admission to hospital
Deteriorating health
Discharge
Recovery
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The homeless patients journey through the health
care system Turning point place for contemplation
Injury/ill health
Avoidance/delay of dealing with problem
Admission to hospital
Deteriorating health
Acute Homeless Liaison Nurse assessment of need
Discharge
Recovery
With continuity of care
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Referrals to other agencies
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DISCHARGE PROTOCOLS

• Draft protocols in place with the following local
  authorities
• South Lanarkshire Council
• West Dunbartonshire Council
• In discussion with the following
• Renfrewshire Council
• North Lanarkshire Council
• Glasgow City Council

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Partnership working
Acute Homeless Liaison Service
Homeless Health Services
Acute Services
Community Health Services
Social Work Services
Voluntary sector
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Remember this

• Homelessness can be
• caused by ill health.
• Homelessness
• causes ill health.
• Homelessness
• exacerbates ill
• health.
• The long-term effects
• of homelessness
• include ill health.

Figure 1