The new London Health Commission’s final report was launched today at London’s City Hall by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Commission Chair Lord Ara Darzi. Following submissions by many homeless sector agencies, and a public evidence hearing at Providence Row on 15 May, we are delighted to see the Commission make a clear recommendation for action to improve services for homeless people and rough sleepers in London.
Commission recommendation 31 says: “Health and care commissioners should develop a pan-London, multi-agency approach to healthcare for the homeless and rough sleepers, with dedicated integrated care teams, and commissioned across the capital by a single lead commissioner.”
Pathway welcomes the focus on joined up city-wide commissioning, and the recognition that homeless patients need an integrated healthcare response. Pathway will be contacting NHS leaders over the next days and weeks to offer our thinking on how best to implement this recommendation, and to hold our leaders to account.
‘Better Health for London’, the London Health Commission’s final report is published here.
The public hearing on homeless health held on 15 May, where a number of Pathway colleagues and other specialists in homeless health gave evidence is available on You Tube here.