§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical provision is available for homeless men and women and children respectively.
§ Mr. YeoGeneral medical and hospital services are available to homeless people on the same basis as the rest of the population.
In some areas there are significant numbers of homeless people whose needs for general medical services cannot be fully met under the normal arrangements, and the Department is funding special schemes. There are 10 such schemes already and more are being considered. These are designed to make general medical services available to homeless people at places where they are known to congregate. Each is staffed by a team of health professionals, including a GP.
In addition, a demonstration project for homeless people who are mentally ill has been set up in London where the problem of homelessness is most acute. The £20 million programme includes up to 150 specialist short-term hostel places, 750 move-on places and four community psychiatric outreach teams.