Health Inclusion Matters announces the official opening of a health service for homeless people.

Feb. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Meadowell  
Primary Care for the Homeless          
87 Cassio Road
Watford
Herts
WD18 0QN

T:  01923 630 333
F:  01923 630 334

Health Inclusion Matters - Opening Ceremony - Tuesday 28th February 2012

Health Inclusion Matters announces the official opening of a health service for homeless people.

You are warmly invited to the official opening of the service as a social enterprise with
Mr Stuart Bloom Chair of NHS Hertfordshire
Mr Richard Harrington MP
Dorothy Thornhill Mayor of Watford

An opportunity to meet the team, the Board, patients past and present, the facility, and listen to an outline of future plans

Press call and photo opportunity 13.00pm
Informal lunch 12.00 - 2.00pm: Opening ceremony 12.30pm

Meadowell was originally set up as a PCT medical service in November 2003, with a remit to provide enhanced access to primary health care for the homeless of Watford and Three Rivers. Since that time almost 2000 patients have been registered and currently 590 homeless and vulnerably housed patients benefit from this targeted health service.

After successfully demonstrating the ability to provide responsive health care to this ‘hard to reach’ group the staff exercised their ‘right to request’ to become a social enterprise and signed a contract with the PCT to provide the service at Meadowell on 30th September 2011.

The Community Interest Company, called Health Inclusion Matters, has its own experienced Board, and is now looking forward to further developing innovative healthcare services for homeless people for the future.

“Homeless people can expect to live about 30 years less than the national average in the United Kingdom, and whilst investment in health care across the general population has seen increased and sustained investment, services for homeless people have remained persistently poor”  
Silent killer, CRISIS December 2011  

“The application of what we know already will have a bigger impact on health and disease than any drug or technology likely to be introduced in the next decade”
Sir Muir Gray, Director UK NHS National Knowledge Service & NHS Chief Knowledge Officer

“Having access to a doctor who understands the health need of homeless people is the first stage towards moving away from a life of homelessness. Many lessons have been learnt over the past 8 years and it is that knowledge which will continue to ensure that service provision for this group flourishes at Meadowell.
Stan Burridge, patient champion

NOTES TO EDITOR:
Media contact (1): Julie Madley, Director Health Inclusion Matters, 01923 630 333 julie.madley@nhs.net,
Media contact (2): Stan Burridge Patient Champion, 07580 966703 stan.burridge@btinternet.com

Health Inclusion Matters is a Community Interest Company contracted to providing primary healthcare for homelessness and vulnerably housed people in the Watford and Three Rivers area. As well as continuing to provide primary healthcare to its patients Meadowell plans to develop a Hepatitis C treatment service with support from the Royal Free Hospital, and will be extending its clinical links with the award winning "London Pathway" project based at UCLH in Euston.