Access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness in the UK and Ireland: a scoping review

Abstract Background People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have poorer physical and mental health than the general population. They are also more likely to have less access to healthcare. These processes of access can be better understood using Levesque’s access framework which addresses both supply...

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Published inBMC health services research Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 1 - 910
Main Authors McNeill, Sarah, O'Donovan, Diarmuid, Hart, Nigel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London BioMed Central Ltd 13.07.2022
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects
Access
Alternative approaches
Educational systems
Health aspects
Health care
Health needs
Health services
Healthcare access
Homeless people
Homelessness
Ireland
Medical personnel
Mental health services
Population
Psychological aspects
Quantitative analysis
Training
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom > UK
Northern Ireland
Ireland
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Summary:Abstract Background People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have poorer physical and mental health than the general population. They are also more likely to have less access to healthcare. These processes of access can be better understood using Levesque’s access framework which addresses both supply (service provision) and demand (user abilities). Methods Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, electronic peer-reviewed databases were searched in February 2022 for studies published since 2000 related to access to healthcare for PEH ages 16 and older in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. Retrieved articles were screened and those eligible were selected for data extraction. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included. Results Fifty-six papers out of 538 identified were selected and aliased. Six main themes were identified: staff education, flexibility of systems, service coordination, patient preparedness, complex health needs and holistic care. These relate to the Levesque access framework. Conclusions Improving access to healthcare for PEH requires changes to how services are provided and how service-user abilities are supported.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:1472-6963
1472-6963
DOI:10.1186/s12913-022-08265-y