FOI Ref: 0025FOI1920 

8^th May 2019 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information 

We are pleased to respond to your request for information and our response is set out below: 

Request/ Response  

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 

I have the following questions about the support offered to homeless patients who attend services provided by your CCG, including but not limited to urgent treatment centres. 

1) How many attendances to your organisation were coded as NFA (no fixed address) per year in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018? 

As a commissioning organisation, we do not hold this information. 

2) Do services in your organisation have (a) a documented pathway for supporting homeless patients; or (b) a housing officer (or similar); or (c) a supply of clean clothes to offer homeless people? If yes to (a), (b), or (c) please provide details. 

As a commissioning organisation, we do not provide the above frontline services to homeless people. 

3) How many patient referrals to a local housing authority under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 has your organisation made since 1 October 2018?

As a commissioning organisation, we do not hold this information. 

4) What is your organisation doing, or planning to do, to support homeless patients or to comply with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017? 

We commission the Homeless Assessment and Support Team (HAST) from Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust to provide access to healthcare and support services for homeless people in Sheffield who have mental health problems.  It aims to provide an assessment service and, where appropriate, to offer treatment and to give support in establishing tenancies, and enabling those users with enduring mental health problems to access and engage with mainstream mental health services. The service has close links with Housing Solutions and other interim accommodation providers in the city. We have worked collaboratively with SHSC, Sheffield City Council to develop a complex needs business case which will contribute to the Homelessness Reduction Act, particularly focusing on people using the city centre as a place to sleep.  

The CCG provides a locally commissioned service from three practices which is designed to support those experiencing homelessness. This service is designed to provide specialised, enhanced care within primary care which not only includes comprehensive health checks for homeless patients but also allows longer appointment times for a population which typically present with multiple health conditions. The service operates both from practices and through specialised GP care in the community.