Help for the homeless at Kirkcaldy A&E

New scheme will see housing experts in place to offer advice and assistance

Fife is trialling a scheme to improve the lives of homeless people while freeing up hospital beds.

In a groundbreaking two-year pilot scheme, housing advisers from the charity Shelter Scotland will be based at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy to help homeless people turning up at accident and emergency.

Alison Watson, deputy director for Shelter Scotland, said: “People experiencing homelessness are more likely to suffer from ill-health and the lack of stable, suitable accommodation is a big factor in this.

“A good home is fundamental to our health and well-being.

“This project aims to demonstrate how improved links between healthcare and housing can deliver better health for patients and be more cost effective for the NHS by cutting the number of repeat visits.”

Shelter Scotland has teamed up with Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) for the trial, which has just been officially launched but which has been in place since earlier this year.

In its first six weeks the scheme helped 19 people, allowing most to wait only 24 hours before leaving hospital, instead of the average wait of six weeks.

Two specialist advisers will be based at the Kirkcaldy hospital during the project, which has had £173,000 of funding, mainly from Shelter Scotland with contributions from Fife HSCP and Fife Council.

Homeless people are nearly four times more likely to attend accident and emergency and more than twice as likely to be admitted to hospital than people who are settled in a home of their own.

Michael Kellet, director of Fife HSCP, said: “We are delighted to be working with Shelter Scotland to bring this vital initiative to Fife. “The early signs are positive. “People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness often have varied and complex needs.

“By partnering with Shelter Scotland, we are working together to support people into safe and appropriate accommodation earlier.

“By working as one team our aim is to help prevent re-admissions, and attendances at the emergency department by supporting the well-being of some of the most vulnerable in our community.

“I look forward to watching the programme progress over the next 12 months.”

NHS Fife chairwoman Tricia Marwick said: “We cannot underestimate the value this will bring to people who potentially could be facing an uncertain or unstable future when leaving hospital.

“Frontline staff will benefit too as they are reassured that the person leaving the hospital door will go into a more secure and stable environment which they can hopefully call home.”

By working as one team our aim is to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community. MICHAEL KELLET FIFE HSCP