Our specialist health team improves access and engagement to healthcare for the Londoners we support, ensuring they get the help they need and deserve to improve their health and lead a fulfilling life. 

Our Health Leads work across three main areas: 

• Improving diagnosis, engagement, treatment, and palliative care for our clients experiencing multiple disadvantage. 
• Forming partnerships with NHS services and health organisations to arrange regular in-reach and fair access to healthcare  
• Influencing and advocacy in partnership with charities and organisations 

What has our approach achieved? 

The benefits of this approach to our clients are outstanding. The project has seen a focus on health brought to the forefront of the work being carried out across hostels, and for the first time in a long time, residents have been able to access the health care they need.  

Improved engagement in healthcare 

We have driven residents' engagement by reducing barriers to healthcare through: 

• creating clinical rooms in our hostels so that interactions with residents are in a safe space. Consistent clinicians and clinic times supported this, helping build familiarity and trust. 
• beginning support with lower-level healthcare services, such as dentistry and podiatry, which allowed residents to feel comfortable before discussing other aspects of their health. 
• facilitating access to outside healthcare services, building a network of trusted partners to work with our clients and providing regular in-reach support in our hostel pathways. 
• providing 1-2-1 wrap-around support, working with clients on every step of the journey. From an initial conversation to completing treatment, including attending appointments, phone calls, and advocating to ensure they get the support they need. 

Improved diagnosis and treatment  

As a result of this approach, we have increased the number of residents being diagnosed with long-term and life-threatening health conditions that had been left untreated and undiagnosed for considerable periods. These were seen in areas such as bowel and oesophagus cancer, HEP C, COPD, and DVTs. 

Dignified dying 

Unfortunately, improved engagement and diagnosis don't always bring good news, with many of the Londoners supporting getting a terminal illness. 

 With little or no treatment in the situation, we work with these residents to ensure they have the most dignified end to life possible, placing their wants and needs at the heart of these decisions.