Mobile health clinic bringing vital services to Northern Ireland homeless community

A new initiative is delivering essential sexual and reproductive healthcare to those experiencing homelessness in Northern Ireland.

The mobile health bus, formerly used for vaccination clinics, has been rolled out across the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area and now provides a drop-in, on-the-doorstep service that brings healthcare to hostels, eliminating access barriers such as referrals, time constraints and appointments.

The initiative began when Inclusion Health Nurse, Lisa Ewart, first joined the team and recognised the poor engagement with sexual and reproductive health services within the homeless community.

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Lisa, who spearheaded the project, explained there was a need for this innovative service and highlighted the positive impact of the bus.

"We saw first-hand the health challenges they face and we knew we had to bring care directly to them," she said.

“Service users find this initiative invaluable. They can access care right on their doorstep, without the challenges of navigating healthcare services. It also empowers them to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health in a supportive, non-judgemental space."

Service user, Zoe shared her experience of the service: "Living in the community as a homeless person, it is very important for me to be able to access health services. This new mobile health bus really makes a difference. I have experienced different things in my life and this is one less worry knowing that I can come and access these services directly.

"Having the bus out in the community makes accessing healthcare so much easier. The team here at the bus are just brilliant, Lisa in particular has been fabulous. I have built up a really good relationship with her and I just cannot sing her praises highly enough.

"Lisa is really good and friendly and she has just made me feel comfortable right from the start which you do not necessarily get with everybody. She has just been amazing!"

Consultant Public Health Nurse, Pauline Wilson, expressed the importance of building trust with the homeless community: "It is extremely important that we can make services more accessible. If it means bringing this service to people on their doorstep so that they can access, then it opens doors for them.

"They can build trust in the staff and service that we are providing and at some stage we hope they can attend actual clinics, taking the first step towards being accountable for their own health.

"It is a brilliant initiative. It is our first service working with the homeless community around their sexual and reproductive health. So far we have had great uptake of the service. If we can reduce the barriers to accessing healthcare for certain groups of people such as the homeless community, then we are really making a difference.

"We are supporting them to take steps to improve their health and overall wellbeing and allowing them to feel valued as individuals."

It is hoped that the mobile bus will also be used for a range of other health and care services in the future.

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