Gatekeepers - Access to primary care for those with multiple needs
Download (PDF 851.27 KB)Summary of report content
Evidence showed that there were problems in Stoke-on-Trent regarding access to primary care for those with multiple needs. This report gathers together this evidence and compiles it, along with guidance on best practice and recommendations for moving forward. The report talks about the experiences of those marginalised groups of people whose needs, to be able to access health services, even though understood, were not translated into actions. It shows that people of NFA (no fixed abode) were facing problems registering at GPs and facing barriers such as stigma and substance abuse in accessing health services.
VOICES, Expert Citizens and Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent aligned their focus upon service design, and used a mixed methodology of case studies from service users, case studies from staff, testimonies from experts in the field, a Mystery Shopping Exercise and some desktop Research to produce their findings in this area.
47.8 % of GPs said they wouldn’t take an NFA patient when asked. The lack of understanding of the ‘Gatekeepers’ (receptionist etc.) in this area, results in them denying access to many homeless people in not only accessing a doctor but also social care, mental health services and drug services.
The report includes some recommendation on what may be done in improving this.
Not being registered with a GP is a significant barrier to accessing other services that people who are homeless often need e.g. social care, mental health, addiction recovery services. This inevitably and unnecessarily adds to the pressures on acute services such as A&E.