Homeless and vulnerable helped to access healthcare in the community

A new team is helping to make sure homeless and vulnerable people in Neath Port Talbot can get the healthcare they need.

It supports them to access GP services, dentists, and smoking cessation and sexual health services, among others.

The service, modelled on a well-established one in Swansea, is based at Alfred Street Primary Care Centre in Neath.

Pictured (l-r): (l-r): The Wallich senior support worker Stuart Southwell, Swansea Bay’s homeless and vulnerable adults team’s clinical nurse specialist Laura Fender, sexual health nurse Libby McKavett, mobile operations at The Wallich Jade Flavin and blood-borne virus nurse James Plant.

Patients can register there, or at its branch sites at Rosedale Medical Centre in Port Talbot and Waterside Medical Centre, in Briton Ferry.

The homeless and vulnerable adults team’s clinical nurse specialist, Laura Fender has been working alongside homelessness charity The Wallich to identify people who could be referred.

“My role is to help make sure people have access to a GP and the services they provide,” she said.

“The individuals we work with often have quite chaotic lifestyles so may not be able to access GP services.

“I have been working alongside The Wallich and going to its Port Talbot base weekly to offer our services to people there.

“In Neath, I have been working closely with The Salvation Army too and I also go there weekly to try and identify people we could support.

“We have been doing referrals to the health board’s community dental service, sexual health services, the smoking cessation service, drug and alcohol services and podiatry, for instance.”

People can register at the GP practice full-time via the service or can also choose to register on a temporary basis if they are not from the area.

Laura said the team has already received plenty of positive feedback from people telling them how much it was needed.

“It is a relatively new service and we are still getting up and running but we have already received feedback to say it is much needed,” Laura said.

“On average we have had between 25 and 30 people registering with a GP through the service every two months, so there has been a big uptake.

“We are also starting to receive referrals from other GP practices when someone wants to register with them but doesn’t have the correct documents. They then refer them to us.

“There is a high population of people experiencing homelessness in Neath Port Talbot, so it is important this service has been introduced.”

It is also hoped that the team will expand in the future to help support even more homeless and vulnerable people in the area.

“We hope to expand the team by introducing a member of staff who could help facilitate people attending appointments and sending patients reminders,” Laura said.

Jason Nancurvis, Head of Mobile Operations at The Wallich, said: “We know that solving homelessness is more than a roof over someone’s head.

“People we work with who live on the streets have undoubtable extra risk to their physical and mental health.

“We are so proud to be collaborating with the health board’s brilliant clinical teams.

“We are seeing improvements to the quality of life of people we support that we previously only dreamt of.

“We think the marriage of our mobile vehicles and health professionals within communities is a winning combination.”

Sam Page, Swansea Bay’s Head of Primary Care, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to ensure there is a dedicated nurse led service to support people who are experiencing homelessness in Neath Port Talbot, modelled on the well-established service provided by Abertawe Medical Practice in Swansea.

“Laura and the GP practice team have made significant progress in the development of a multi-agency approach to managing the needs of these individuals who often do not fit into existing care pathways because of their complex needs.

“They are flexible and respond to the needs of their patients and they continue to be dedicated in further developing and expanding to the service needs.

“The health board’s clusters have identified health inclusion as a key priority within their current plans to support the development of primary care health inclusions services that are designed and adapted for people most in need.

“Work is ongoing to map the services that are currently available against the needs of the population to inform future planning and service development.”