The mobile health clinic which provides health checks to people experiencing homeless on the Central Coast, Health on The Streets (HoTS), helped over 50 people access vital health services last month.
Launched in March 2020 by Central Coast Primary Care (CCPC), the touring medical van combines homeless outreach with clinical health checks and takes these services out to people experiencing homelessness where they are in the region.
HoTS is an initiative brought about from years of campaigning for improved services for people experiencing homelessness and was possible by funding secured through the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Central Coast Primary Care’s CEO, Michelle Bradbury, said it was a great achievement for vulnerable people in the community.
“Being able to access treatment for health conditions today, and not allowing the condition to escalate, has an untold flow on effect for that person and the whole community.” Bradbury said.
Central Coast Primary Care has a history of local homeless outreach and recognises the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, accessing basic healthcare being one of those challenges.
The HoTS team consists of a registered nurse and two outreach workers and works closely with existing homeless services and local health care providers, such as general practitioners, pathology centres, and sexual health clinics.
Executive Manager of Primary Health and Community at Central Coast Primary Care, David McLeod, said they completed 56 clinical inventions last month which include identifying transmittable and chronic health conditions.
“By detecting these early, we are able to improve the quality of life of the patients, and over 74 referrals were made into local health services for the ongoing management of these conditions,” he said.
“Since the commencement of HoTS we have also been linking people with housing services, which has led to 19 people securing permanent housing.”
Source:
Media release, Nov 18
Central Coast Primary Care