21/06/2024
Our Health Inclusion hub in Derry City Centre, is celebrating the success of its first year with almost 850 referrals managed, to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
The health hub called ‘Labre’ after the Patron Saint of the homeless, provides services out of the clinic setting, right into the community, to wrap care around the people who need it most, where they need it. This includes nursing and podiatry services, alongside physical and mental health care and addictions services for those sleeping rough, or in hostel accommodation or non-standard accommodation.
Acknowledging the first anniversary of the homeless hub, Chair of the Western Trust Dr Tom Frawley said:
“I wish to thank our staff working in this fantastic facility. Having visited the hub, I have seen first-hand how specialised and bespoke this service is, dealing with highly complex health needs of people who are experiencing homelessness.
“Staff are providing outstanding care and support. Collectively their work is helping to improve health and wellbeing outcomes of service users who are often the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community.”
The focal point of the Hub’s services is a Public Health Nurse for the Homeless, Michelle Doyle. Michelle commented:
“Gareth Cullen, Senior Podiatrist, and I have really seen the benefits of having this hub positioned close to our service users and often within walking distance. It allows client’s easier access to health care when they have a specialist service in place to help meet their health needs that otherwise would not be met with the potential for clients to become seriously ill.
“We do not work in isolation and we work in close partnership with colleagues both from within the Trust and other Agencies in order to meet the needs of our clients. The Trust’s GUM services continue to provide a weekly outreach service which has been a great success and other services also continue to expand.
“Alongside the hub, we continue to deliver our services by undertaking street outreach and by accessing the Welcome Organisation Mobile Health Unit once a week to deliver specialist services.”
“We are delighted to have reached our one year anniversary having successfully dealt with 850 referrals.”