Pages: 51 - 54
Article topics: Intermediate care, Multidisciplinary team
People experiencing homelessness are generally not seen in traditional models of intermediate care. An out-of-hospital care model for those experiencing homelessness has been established in Leeds. This offers good quality accommodation in community settings with a multidisciplinary team to assess people’s health and social care needs and offer step up or step down from hospital care. This has demonstrated a reduction in emergency department attendances and unplanned hospital stays, as well as an opportunity for people to be included in a home first model. Unexpected outcomes include a reduction in street sex work for the women who have been engaged on the project, less engagement with the criminal justice system, a place to facilitate prison releases, and an environment where end-oflife care can be delivered and achieve preferred place of death. Future investment is needed for out-of-hospital care to be an equitable offer in the city available to all.