Groundswell Timeline /2016
In partnership with the London Homeless Health Programme (LHHP) we carried out peer-led research ‘More than a Statistic’ (2016), revealing that one of the key barriers people who are homeless face to getting healthcare is registering and making use of a GP practice.
Despite the clear responsibility for GP’s, the registration of homeless people without a fixed address, identification or status in the UK remained a problem. We identified a lack of knowledge amongst GP’s, their staff, homeless people and those supporting them regarding their rights when accessing healthcare.
In response Groundswell and LHHP produced ‘My Right to Healthcare’ cards; small plastic credit card style cards emphasising that when registering with a GP:
- You do not need a fixed address.
- You do not need identification.
- Your immigration status does not matter.
To date we have distributed 65,000 cards across London. Find out more about the cards and download here.
“Each individual that I have given them to, has expressed their surprise/lack of knowledge in relation to this provision and have recounted episodes where they were refused service at the point of access”.
Homelessness support worker
In partnership with the London Homeless Health Programme (LHHP) we carried out peer-led research ‘More than a Statistic’ (2016), revealing that one of the key barriers people who are homeless face to getting healthcare is registering and making use of a GP practice.
Despite the clear responsibility for GP’s, the registration of homeless people without a fixed address, identification or status in the UK remained a problem. We identified a lack of knowledge amongst GP’s, their staff, homeless people and those supporting them regarding their rights when accessing healthcare.
In response Groundswell and LHHP produced ‘My Right to Healthcare’ cards; small plastic credit card style cards emphasising that when registering with a GP:
- You do not need a fixed address.
- You do not need identification.
- Your immigration status does not matter.
To date we have distributed 65,000 cards across London. Find out more about the cards and download here.
“Each individual that I have given them to, has expressed their surprise/lack of knowledge in relation to this provision and have recounted episodes where they were refused service at the point of access”.
Homelessness support worker