An NHS funded scheme has been giving people experiencing homelessness help to get online and access medical records, order repeat prescriptions and find trusted health advice.
Charity SPEAR London’s scheme has been improving online skills and confidence to help people with tasks such as using the NHS website and app to request repeat prescriptions or look at their medical records, promote self-care and potentially eases the pressure on urgent and emergency NHS health care.
Of the people experiencing homelessness that SPEAR sees, more than 80% report having a mental health issue, over 60% a physical health issue and 65% a form of addiction. Last year, the top physical health issues were problems with teeth and difficulties breathing.
This will help support people to get the help they need more quickly as earlier treatment is more effective.”
SPEAR, which has been supporting rough sleepers in south west London for more than 35 years, has provided its Homeless Health Link service since 2015 and through that work it has seen an increasing shift towards digital access for primary health care services.
Sarah Affleck, SPEAR’s Senior Trust Fundraising Manager, said: “Our scheme has been helping rough sleepers to access reliable health information and advice and healthcare services online.
“It was developed following the success of our digital inclusion pilot programme for rough sleepers, which provided access to digital services and one-to-one support. In turn, health conditions not being managed, those in their early stages or those yet to be identified can begin to be addressed. This helps to support people to get the help they need more quickly as earlier treatment is more effective.
“Our focus is on helping rough sleepers get online and support them with setting up online accounts, requesting repeat medications, making appointments and accessing their health records. This work supports inclusive access and reduces demand on healthcare’s administrative teams and even face-to-face care for easily resolvable issues.”
The latest initiative came after SPEAR ran a pilot for 27 homeless people in Sutton in 2021, which saw wi-fi, devices and weekly one-to-one digital learning sessions provided. That resulted in 95% of participants reporting improved skills and confidence.
The scheme rolled out during winter into early spring – which ran in Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth, Sutton and Merton after receiving a £52,400 grant from NHS South West London’s innovation fund – built upon that pilot and activities included:
- Personalised one-to-one digital skills sessions
- Small group digital health skills sessions in our supported accommodation, such as Penny Wade hostel in Richmond
- Drop-in support and internet access to websites such as NHS and Patient Access at Spear’s weekly community health sessions held at Faith in Action in Merton.
- Drop-in digital health support and internet access at monthly partnership, community-based health and wellbeing days
- ‘Train the trainer’ sessions to frontline staff and volunteers so they can further improve rough sleeper’s digital skills development.
More information about SPEAR London can be found on the charity’s website.