Healthwatch Warwickshire – Project to help homeless people access GPs

Rights To Access Healthcare project

Click here to find our more on the Rights To Access Healthcare project, currently operating in Rugby, raising awareness of everybody’s right to access a GP surgery, regardless of whether they have a fixed address, identification or their immigration status. Healthwatch Warwickshire, which is running the project, is emphasising these rights particularly for homeless or badly housed people, which includes those who have nowhere to stay and are living on the streets, are staying with friends or family, are staying in a hostel, night shelter or B&B, squatting (in a place you have no legal right to stay), at risk of violence or abuse in your home, living in poor conditions that affect your health or living apart from your family because you do not have a place to live together. They have produced a card which individuals can present to a GP surgery to ensure they receive treatment, and a booklet which explains what your rights are.

If you’re a group or organisation who works with homeless or badly housed individuals who would benefit from having a card, Healthwatch Warwickshire is also running a number of free workshops in Rugby to inform you about the project, where you can also collect the Rights To Access cards and booklets to pass on to those in need.  Further details are detailed in the attached:

http://www.healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk/projects/rap_homelessness/