Number Of Rough Sleepers Admitted To Hospital Up 130% In Five Years

The number of rough sleepers being admitted to hospital has risen by 130% over the past five years – and more than 500 admissions each week now relate to homelessness. A report into the issue by the King’s Fund revealed that nearly 28,000 people were admitted to hospital in England with a primary or secondary diagnosis of homelessness in 2018-19 – up from 24,500 the previous year. It said rough sleepers often find it hard to access services due to practical barriers such as not owning a phone, as well as the belief among some staff that patients need a home address to register for GP services. Download either a summary or the full report from the King’s Fund website.

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/delivering-health-care-people-sleep-rough