Homeless health service wins top award

We are delighted to announce that our Homeless Health Peripatetic Nurse Service in Hammersmith & Fulham scooped the 'Nursing in the Community' award at last night's Nursing Times Awards. Congratulations team!
 

Justine Bohan (pictured below), lead nurse who has pioneered the pilot service, said: "To win this award is fantastic recognition for the service. Homelessness is increasing day-by-day not only in Hammersmith & Fulham, but across the UK, and this peripatetic nursing model is both versatile and adaptable."

Back in November 2015 Justine was tasked with setting up a nursing service in the borough which involved traveling from place to place, providing healthcare to those most in need and since then the service has gone from strength-to-strength.

Our chief executive, Andrew Ridley, said: "This is an incredible achievement for not only the service, but the organisation as a whole. We're delighted to win the award as it gives the model, service and organisation the recognition it deserves."

With healthcare systems stretched and costs rising, the pioneering pilot was introduced and has already shown incredible results. By the end of the first 12 months of the pilot outcomes within the local homeless population included: a 20% reduction in A&E presentations; a 30% reduction in ambulance callouts; and also a 20% reduction in non-elective hospital admissions, as well as evidence of improvement in health benefits.

The Nursing Times awards ceremony was held at Grosvenor House in London, and saw the Trust competing in a hugely competitive category against other organisations including: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals FT, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, and Virgin Care.

Dr Crystal Oldman, Chief Executive of The Queens Nursing Institute, presented the award.

This award win comes in a successful week for the Homeless Health team, who also scooped the 'Compassion in Care' award at our annual Staff Awards ceremony on Tuesday night.