Press release – for immediate release
12.09.2024
On 12 September, Lord Darzi published the report of his investigation into the performance of the NHS. The report draws attention to the extremely poor health and poor access to healthcare experienced by people facing homelessness. Pathway’s Chief Executive, Alex Bax, was a member of the panel who gave evidence to the review.
Alex Bax, CEO of Pathway said:
“We in Pathway are grateful to Lord Darzi for laying bare the state of healthcare for people facing homelessness. Homelessness is, indeed, a health catastrophe, and we are pleased that Lord Darzi’s review has drawn on Pathway’s evidence to describe the stark reality of the desperate state of health of people who have nowhere to call home.”
“We know what works to address this and so we must now use the opportunity presented by the Government’s 10-Year NHS plan to put in place the joined-up services needed to tackle the problem once and for all. This needs to begin with the expansion of specialist hospital teams and intermediate care services, to end the unacceptable practice of people being discharged from hospital to the street.”
“As Lord Darzi rightly points out, the nation’s poor health is the sign of a society in distress. Action to tackle extreme health inequalities is not only the job of the Department for Health and Social Care. Concerted cross-Government action is needed, including through the Government’s cross-Government homelessness strategy, to build the social housing we so desperately need.”
Dr. Chris Sargeant, Pathway Medical Director and Secretary of the Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health, said:
“This report sets out what those of us working on the frontline of homeless and inclusion health have known for years. People experiencing homelessness, and others facing social exclusion, are at the sharp end of the crisis in the NHS. We commend Lord Darzi for reflecting the voices of members of Pathway’s Lived Experience Programme. People with lived experience must be at the heart of the Government’s 10-year plan for the NHS.”
Pathway is pleased to see several key findings in Lord Darzi’s report, including:
- People facing homelessness are far more likely to have asthma or other breathing problems, heart disease, or epilepsy.
- A study of homeless hospital inpatients found that 64 percent had three or more physical health co-morbidities.
- A survey of people experiencing homelessness found that 82 percent had a mental health diagnosis.
For press enquiries, please contact: jonathan.lucas@pathway.org.uk
Notes to editors:
- Pathway’s Medical Director and specialist homelessness GP Dr Chris Sargeant is available for interview.
- Pathway’s Director of Policy and Programmes, Dee O’Connell is available for interview.
- Pathway was part of the Expert Reference Group that provided evidence for Lord Darzi’s review. Evidence available on request.
- New independent investigation into the NHS in England highlights the poor health outcomes routinely faced by people experiencing homelessness and other marginalised groups.
- Pathway published the Homeless and Inclusion Health Barometer, on which many of the homelessness findings are based, in March this year.
- Pathway hosts the Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health.
- Release of the report comes as Pathway, the homeless and inclusion health charity, prepares to attend the 2024 Labour Party Conference with an immersive exhibit demonstrating the harsh reality faced each year by over 4,000 patients discharged from hospital to no fixed abode.
- The NICE Homelessness Guideline sets out the evidence-based action that can be taken immediately to improve the health of people facing homelessness.