New funding allocated to hospital aftercare for homeless people

The Department of Health has announced that new funding is being allocated to ensure that homeless people who receive hospital care are given better support once they are discharged.

Ten million pounds has been earmarked to help voluntary organisations work with the NHS and local authorities to create services to combat the high rate of readmissions among destitute people.

Currently, it is estimated that 70 percent of homeless people are discharged without their health and housing problems being properly addressed, while the cost of treating them in hospital is 85 million pounds – eight times higher than the average.

Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "Homeless people are too often discharged back onto the street without their problems being properly addressed. This is damaging to their health and increases NHS costs through revolving door admissions."

This project also aligns with the government's previously-stated ambition of involving the voluntary sector in healthcare provision more closely.