GP Access for people of no fixed abode

Healthwatch Norwich engaged with professionals and organisations working with people of no fixed abode, surgeries across the county, and people who had recently been of no fixed abode to find out if vulnerable adults could access mainstream NHS primary care in the same way as everyone else. Their findings included:

• From a professional’s perspective, people of No Fixed Abode received a different experience to other patients – they struggled more than any other patient to access the same treatment and care.
• Most surgeries (65%) who were asked how someone would register with their practice if they did not have a fixed abode confirmed that such people would be able to register with them.
• However, 35% of the surgeries said that someone of No Fixed Abode would be able to register, but conditionally. While the conditions varied, most included needing a care-of address.
• Only 5% stated that they would not register and would signpost such people to use the Vulnerable Adult Service.
• None of the people interviewed, who had recently been of no fixed abode, expressed any strong concerns about their ability to access GP services, with all of them able to access the GP if they wanted to.

Healthwatch have made recommendations for surgeries to have a process in place for people without a fixed address to register and train their staff so they are aware of the process.