Doctors pop up to help homeless

VULNERABLE people have been able to receive important healthcare thanks to a pop-up doctors surgery set up back in April.

Emmaus Salford and Salford Primary Care Together (SPCT) are behind the approach to community health by hosting a weekly popup GP service at Emmaus’ Pendleton base.

The scheme, known as the Inclusion GP Service, started just after the first lockdown back in April 2020 and health professionals have been offering a friendly consultation service, referrals to other health specialists and have been providing flu jabs to those who need them.

The service provided by SPCT gives vulnerable people supported by Emmaus Salford the chance to access health services more easily.

The GP service is also open to people who are street homeless and accessing The People’s Pods.

Rachel Richardson, community director at Emmaus Salford, said: “Often when people have experienced homelessness they lose that connection to a local GP and some people can have anxiety about engaging with health services again. The weekly GP service has been a fantastic success and greatly improved the health and wellbeing of people supported at Emmaus Salford.

“I would like to give huge thanks to the staff at Salford Primary Care Together for working positively with our team and ensuring this new approach runs smoothly.”

Becki Smee, case manager at SPCT Inclusion GP Service, said: “We know that homelessness is associated with enormous health inequalities, including shorter life expectancy, higher morbidity and greater usage of hospital services, and even when people have a temporary address there are still barriers to accessing primary health care.

“Our service aims to break down those barriers and ensure that all the people we support are accessing the right care that they need and are entitled to.”

Jane Galbraith, health navigator at SPCT Inclusion GP Service, said: “Working with staff and companions at Emmaus has been a real privilege. The staff there work so hard to empower and enable the companions to live fulfilled, independent lives”.

To learn more and support Emmaus Salford visit their website.