Transformation Partners in Health and Care > Chris Streather visits new drop-in clinic offering free bloodborne virus testing and health screening to people experiencing homelessness

Chris Streather visits new drop-in clinic offering free bloodborne virus testing and health screening to people experiencing homelessness

Following World Hepatitis Day on 28 July, we had the pleasure of welcoming Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director at NHS England London to our co-developed drop-in clinic at Health E1 Homeless Medical Centre, which offers bloodborne virus testing for HIV, Hep B & Hep C to people experiencing homelessness.

The drop-in clinic is part of a 6-month pilot commissioned by the NHS England Hepatitis C Elimination Programme, looking to raise awareness, address stigma and improve access to Hepatitis C testing and treatment for marginalised populations through primary care in a collaborative and sustainable way. The project is led by the Clinical Lead for Hepatitis C in Health Inequalities & Inclusion Health, Dr Binta Sultan and Project Manager Jess Notridge.

The drop-in clinic at Health E1 is open access, lived experience led, and offers harm minimisation interventions, wound care, liver health screening and involves active outreach to street populations. The team’s aim was to implement a clinic that met the holistic needs of patients and that was sustainable. The team achieved this by engaging with experts by experience from the start to co-develop the pilot. The team listened to their needs and thoughts on how interventions should be delivered. Some of the outputs include that the clinic should:

  • Be lived experience led
  • Offer integrated care to address the holistic needs of the patient
  • Be trauma informed
  • Have a low barrier to access the drop in clinic
People sitting in discussion around a table

The team also engaged with primary care colleagues to co-develop the pilot, alongside local service partners and advocacy agencies: St. Mungo’s, Providence Row, Positive East, Hepatitis C Trust, Barts Health NHS Foundation Trust, British Liver Trust and Hep C U Later.

Health E1 is one of two pilot sites. The second will be at Brigstock Medical Practice in Croydon SWL, however the proposed pilot model will offer opt-out bloodborne virus (Hep C, Hep B and HIV) testing for all patients at the practice, building on the success of the ED opt out programme.

An evaluation of the complex intervention including qualitative and quantitative assessments will be carried out at the end of the pilot.

To find out more please contact the Homeless Health team: rf-tr.hlp-homelesshealth@nhs.net

White van parked on a street outside a building