New research published todayshows that homeless people are twice as likely as the rest of the population to have a physical and mental illness, and they are not getting the right help from the NHS.
An audit by
Homeless Link, an umbrella group for charities working with homeless people, reveals that more than 7 in 10 suffer from one or more physical health problem, and an even higher proportion report having a mental health issue.
The research,
The Unhealthy State of Homelessness, shows that 41% of respondents reported having a long-term physical health problem (28% amongst the general population); 45% had been diagnosed with a mental health condition (25%) and 36% had taken drugs in the past month (5%).
The proportions of some long-term conditions are even higher. Reported incidences of stomach conditions is five times higher in the homeless population, and diagnosis of depression is more than 10 times higher.
69% of participants were male; 36% were young people aged 25 or younger, and 58% were aged between 26 and 55.
Homeless Link wants the NHS to provide health MOT to anyone who is homeless.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said:
"The link between not having a home and experiencing illness is clear, and homelessness must be recognised as a public health issue across the health system.
"This means working in partnership with charities to better identify an individual’s housing situation and taking action early to prevent health problems getting worse.
"We know that when this happens, significant improvements can be made to people’s well-being, as well as reducing the impact on the public purse. We are calling for the political and financial backing to ensure this continues."
The audit was developed in partnership with NHS, local authorities and voluntary sector members and used 2,590 responses from homeless people using services in 19 areas across England between the start of 2012 and March 2014.
The research indicates that living in dangerous conditions, such as in squats or on the streets, is likely to make existing problems worse. People experiencing homelessness are also much more likely to suffer from the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. 35% do not eat at least two meals a day, two-thirds consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol each time they drink and 77% smoke.
Despite these high rates, over 15% of respondents with physical health needs reported not receiving help, whilst 17.5% of those with mental health issues and 16.7% with alcohol issues would like support but are not receiving it. In addition, 7% have been denied access to a dentist or GP.
The high health needs of homeless people has a major cost impact on the NHS, as they are heavy users of acute and primary care services. Research indicates that homeless people are four times more likely to seek help from acute NHS services, for example A&E, than the general population, a situation which the Government estimates to cost around £85m per year.
The report calls for "sustained action to improve the way we tackle homelessness and poor health".