Factors associated with access to care and healthcare utilisation in the homeless population of England

Elwell-Sutton, Timothy, Fok, Jonathan, Albanese, Francesca, Mathie, Helen and Holland, Richard (2017) Factors associated with access to care and healthcare utilisation in the homeless population of England. Journal of Public Health, 39 (1). pp. 26-33. ISSN 1741-3842

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Abstract

Introduction: People experiencing homelessness are known to have complex health needs which are often compounded by poor access to healthcare. This study investigates the individual-level factors associated with access to care and healthcare utilisation among homeless people in England. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 2,505 homeless people from 19 areas of England was used to investigate associations with access to care and healthcare utilisation. Results: Rough sleepers were much less likely to be registered with a GP (OR 0.45, CI 0.30-0.66) than single homeless in accommodation (reference group) or the hidden homeless (OR 1.48 CI 0.88-2.50). Those who had recently been refused registration by a GP or dentist also had lower odds of being admitted to hospital (OR 0.67, CI 0.49-0.91) or using an ambulance (OR 0.73, CI 0.54-0.99). Conclusions: The most vulnerable homeless people appear to face the greatest barriers to utilising healthcare. Rough sleepers have particularly low rates of GP registration and this appears to have a knock-on effect on admission to hospital. Improving primary care access for the homeless population could ensure that some of the most vulnerable people in society are able to access vital services which they are currently missing out on.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	health services,primary care,social determinants
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2016 09:23
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 00:46
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57742
DOI:	10.1093/pubmed/fdw008

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