Hospital patients who are homeless, or at risk of becoming so, now have access to additional help and support thanks to a new project.

The new campaign from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust comes with the support of resources from their partners in the initiative; the Stockport Homes Group, Age UK, The Wellspring, Decathlon Stockport and Mastercall.

It’s in response to the significant number of patients at Stepping Hill Hospital at risk of homelessness. This group is particularly vulnerable during the colder winter months.

Homelessness can lead to or worsen many health problems, and ill health can be both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Patients who are discharged into a state of homelessness can therefore be dragged into a spiral of worsening health, requiring further hospital care and treatment.

The new measures are designed to help tackle this.

Stockport Homes Group (SHG) provides the role of Hospital Homeless Advocate to deliver specialist support on the Stepping Hill Hospital site. SHG are working with the trust to provide face-to-face training sessions for staff to help them with the process referring patients to the support they need.

Patients who have been referred can then receive support from SHG and partner services.

The aim is for consenting patients to receive their referral as soon as possible for the support of their welfare,  and improving patient care and outcomes, as well as helping patient flow in the busy hospital.

For those who are still experiencing homelessness, staff can also provide with supplies which have been donated by partners. These include hats, gloves, flasks, backpacks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary items and food.

Karen James OBE, Chief Executive for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “We are proud to be taking these new measures in tackling the problem homelessness with our patients.  Supporting people out of homelessness is both a good thing in itself, and a key way of preventing further health problems. I’d also like to thank the generous support we have received from our partners in providing this new support.”