Health Outreach for people who cannot access mainstream health services

From 1 October, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) will be providing Health Outreach services to people who would not normally access healthcare, including the homeless, gypsies, travellers, Roma, refugee and asylum seekers, migrant workers, ex-offenders and Black and Minority Ethnic groups.

Health Outreach was previously known as the Marginalised and Vulnerable Adults (MVA) service and covers the east and west Suffolk areas providing care and support in community settings, at hostels, on the street or in the home.

Health Outreach will work closely with local GPs, the voluntary sector, social services and other partners to encourage people to access mainstream health services.

The new Health Outreach service will work in partnership with Volunteering Matters to enable people to access volunteering opportunities as part of their care and support. Volunteering Matters deliver volunteer programmes across the UK that helps to improve health and wellbeing and build stronger more inclusive communities.

Members of the public can self-refer to this service in person or by phoning 01473 341763. GPs and other healthcare professionals can also refer clients to this service.

Health Outreach aims to achieve social inclusion for their patients by focusing on their immediate needs, signposting them to appropriate services and providing care and treatment as and when required. The team will also identify the strengths and abilities of their patients in the hope of building their confidence and resilience.

Andy Brogan, Executive Director of Mental Health and Deputy CEO, said: “Health Outreach will provide much needed healthcare and treatment for people who for various reasons do not or cannot access mainstream healthcare. This service will benefit people who are constantly on the move or are homeless. We will be working with GPs, social services and voluntary organisations to provide healthcare that will address the needs of these vulnerable people.”

Stephen Skeet, Head of East of England at Volunteering Matters, said: “We at Volunteering Matters believe that everyone has a role to play in their community and we look forward to building a programme to reflect this in partnership with Health Outreach service users.”

The service is commissioned by Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group and West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group. The contract is for five years.