Homeless Intermediate Care Pilot Project

In January 2009 St Mungo's, and Three Boroughs Primary Health Care Team, launched the Intermediate Care Pilot Project, at Cedars Road hostel, in Clapham. The aim was to reduce the level of mortality and morbidity in clients residing in the hostel, and also secondary care usage

Homeless people experience a higher rate of health problem, have poorer access to healthcare, and in most cases do not seek early healthcare intervention. Research shows that homeless people have a higher level of admission to hospital emergency departments, and on hospital wards, than the general population.

The Intermediate Care Pilot Project is run by a full-time senior nurse, and Health Support Worker, with clinical support from several GPs. They work very hard to:

• prevent unnecessary admission to hospital
• facilitate timely discharges from hospital
• support optimal independent living capacity and quality of life
• improve physical health status and reduce death rate of hostel's clients
• prepare clients for rehabilitation

Success

In September 2010 a detailed economic review of the project was launched, highlighting the success so far and the need for continued funding. One key finding was that during the period of there was a 77 per cent reduction in hospital admissions and a 52 per cent reduction in Accident and Emergency attendances in the hostel population. Click here to read the September 2010 report.

Read a Society Guardian article about the project, published in December 2009.

Sam Dorney-Smith (Nurse Practitioner), Intermediate Care client, and Dr Sam Kar