Mental health nurses help the homeless

Nurses from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) have been offering mental health checks to homeless people in Southend

Three nurses teamed up with health, council and charity partners to take part in a three-night health check pilot organised by Southend and Castle Point and Rochford CCGs.

Mental health nurses Simone Longley, Lena Ferguson and Sharon Jones visited Southend Sacred Heart winter night shelter, Southend One Love soup kitchen and Leigh Road Baptist Church to meet 15 members of the homeless community.

The pilot project is designed to provide help and support to vulnerable homeless people who struggle to access mental health services and attend GP appointments. Many do not have a way of keeping track of their appointments or of being contacted by healthcare professionals.

Simone, Lena and Sharon joined Everyone Health, STARS, the Rough Sleeper Initiative, Peabody, commissioners from Southend and Castle Point and Rochford CCGs and local GPs.