Access to General Practice for People Sleeping Rough

The objectives of the research were simple. First, it was to produce maps of England showing those areas in which people sleeping rough were having persistent problems in gaining access to GP services. Second, it was to investigate why these problems in access were arising. Third, although the concentration of the research was to be on access to GPs, some assessment of the quality of care being received by people sleeping rough was to be undertaken. People sleeping rough generally need access to health services if their resettlement into housing is to be successful. The high prevalence of severe mental illness and drug or alcohol addiction among people sleeping rough often means that they will be unable to sustain themselves in a tenancy without medical and practical support. Access to GP services can therefore be a prerequisite for effective resettlement.