What's it like to be a woman and homeless in Medway?
Download (PDF 8.41 MB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Medway wanted to explore the experience of homeless women accessing healthcare. They spoke to 5 women and 3 men.
Homeless women found it difficult to get a midwife appointment. A woman who had had a miscarriage had to visit A&E for support.
Three women were registered with a GP, but one was far away and she couldn’t travel to the surgery.
The women talked about the importance of having a key worker to access healthcare.
They had mixed feedback about dentists and opticians.
They found it difficult to get the mental health support they needed. All the homeless people found it difficult to access services which operate 9am to 5pm.
The discussion also covered substance misuse and housing issues.
The report contains two recommendations about the need for outreach services and a one stop shop for healthcare in the evenings.