NHS hospitals are being urged to do more to help homeless patients, in a report commissioned by the government.
The report acknowledges that some staff feel that patients' housing needs are beyond the remit of hospitals. But it says a more intensive approach to the homeless can cut the cost of them repeatedly turning up as emergency cases. The report, by Homeless Link and St Mungo's, quotes the example of a special team at University College Hospital (UCH) in London which has helped save £100,000.
Homeless patients are thought to cost at least five times as much as other patients, because they often have multiple health problems and repeated admissions. NHS hospitals are being told to identify homeless patients quickly, and involve housing teams or hostels in their care - rather than discharging them back onto the streets.
You can read more on this story at the BBC News site here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18210825
The full report is available here: Helping Homeless People Regain Their Health: Our Vision For A Better NHS
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