Pharmacist Prescribers Working With People Who Are Homeless
NHS Lothian
The health of people who are homeless is worsening, with the Accident and Emergency (A&E) visits, outpatient non-attendance and drug related deaths increasing. Health services are struggling to engage and meet the diverse needs of this marginalised group. People who are homeless have low rates of healthcare engagement, low uptake of preventative interventions including prescribing and increasing rates of presentation to emergency services.
Assertive outreach is an approach used to engage with those who are unserved or underserved by existing agencies, and who are not able or willing to seek services from those agencies. It involves relationship building, with the outreach service having an ideology of care e.g. social inclusion, and unconditional support, based on strong principles and values.
This project is a sibling project of the Glasgow PHOENIx approach and introduces a Pharmacist independent prescriber (fully integrated with Homelessness Health Service) alongside Street Work team worker, to assertively outreach in Edinburgh city centre and also running regular drop ins at the streetwork hub for health & social care.
For further information on this project please contact: hcis.inquireseevit@nhs.scot