The story of Tina, a homeless lady from Southend shows her moment that mattered and how she benefited from a partnership programme to focus on her individual needs, reducing health inequalities.
Tina has struggled with a lifetime of alcohol misuse, but HARP, Southend’s leading homelessness charity, alongside the NHS and social care teams, were able to support her, listen to her and give her a safe place to live. With their gardening, cooking and other activities Tina feels safe to continue her rehabilitation.
I’ve been homeless for three years. It’s a good service and has helped me with my physical and my mental health. I’m pleased I’ve had access to the support and have somewhere safe and warm to live. It means I can rebuild my life and hope to be able to see my grandchildren more.
Tina, Southend resident
The initiative has resulted in:
- a 9% average drop in admissions to hospital
- 900% increase in cervical cancer screening reducing cancer related deaths which is twice as high in homeless adults as the average adult population
- 23 acute mental health assessments preventing possible crisis and hospital stays
At HARP, health and wellbeing are at the centre of all of our work supporting local people as they recover after a period of homelessness. Partnership working is absolutely key to achieving success for our clients, and collaborating effectively with other local agencies such as our NHS colleagues allows complementary services to work together, ultimately helping more local people like Tina to overcome homelessness and any associated health challenges
Gary Turner, Director of Service Operations at HARP
Tina’s story forms part of a campaign called Moments that Matter launched by the soon to be formed Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System to show the benefits of joint working between health and care professionals and the positive impact this has on local residents.
The ‘moment that mattered’ to Tina was the professionals involved in her care, supporting her physical and mental health, collectively, rather than in isolation. Tina was supported with holistic care ensuring she didn’t fall through any gaps with problems and illnesses being treated in isolation
Dr Haroon Siddique, who set up the programme through his Primary Care Network in Southend West and is also a Trustee of HARP
Integrated care is about giving people the support they need, joined up across local councils, the NHS, and other partners including social care providers, voluntary and community enterprise sector and charities. The Moments that Matter campaign demonstrates the impact of people working together and the benefits this has for our residents in mid and south Essex to live happier, healthier and longer lives
Dr Ronan Fenton – Medical Director of the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board