Parish Nurse feedback from HARC 2022/23 - 31/01/2023

“I think my biggest reflection from spending time at the Homeless and Rootless at Christmas (HARC) project over Christmas and the New Year period, is that most of this client group have significant health needs which are not being met. This goes against popular press and media reports that people are wasting NHS resources by attending for things they don't need to”, says Parish Nurse Michaela Suckling, from the St Matthew’s Carver Street Parish Nursing Project.

 

 

Help us Help asked Michaela to share her experiences about this year’s HARC project, to give an insight into the work that her team did over the festive period.

In total, the Parish Nurse team saw 37 clients, with 26 of them new clients. Support was provided for:

• health conditions, both physical and mental, 
• reducing social isolation and loneliness, 
• signposting, 
• health promotion, and 
• crisis intervention, among other reasons.

Michaela explained why the work of health teams is so important, saying, “for some people, they're just unable to navigate the structures now in place, such as online booking systems. For others, their health is lower down the list of priorities and they are focussing on meeting financial and housing needs first. It made such a difference for several health services to be available at the point of need.”

Along with the Parish Nurse Team, other health and personal care services attended the HARC project to support guests.

Podiatrist

“I saw people with diabetes getting fantastic service from the podiatrists. This had a significant impact on their health and wellbeing and will have reduced the risk of further complications in the future, which in a worst-case scenario could lead to amputation.”

Dentist

“A lady with a painful wobbly tooth and an intense fear of the dentist had her tooth removed and was looking forward to her first good night’s sleep in months! Yet another intervention that helped the client to feel better but also reduced risk and the need for more costly treatment in the future.”

Chronic health condition

“I assessed a man with chronic obstructive airway disease who didn't want to bother the doctor because ‘they will be busy and it's Christmas time’. I was able to explain that his observation meant he really should seek medical care, and wrote him a note so he didn't have to explain everything and could feel more confident in approaching them for an appointment. 

The man was seen the next day having started antibiotics and getting new inhalers. He was feeling better and this simple intervention prevented the need for hospitalisation and increased suffering.”

The future

“Looking forward I will be working closely with the local commissioner for homeless health and other support organisations to look at the needs of the client group and how our local health services may be able to meet these needs in new and innovative ways.”

 

You can read our previous blog about the work of the Parish Nurse team, here.

 

Alison Wise for Help us Help, Feb 2023