The Homeless Rough Sleepers Nursing Service for Somerset are a team of 13 who provide outreach healthcare to some of the county’s most vulnerable people.

We were runners up for The Royal Society for Public Health, Health & Wellbeing Awards - Health Equity 2022, and we have just won the NHS Parliamentary Awards for Health Inequalities 2023 at the NHS 75th celebrations in London.

The team consists of 1 Clinical Lead Nurse prescriber, with a background in Accident and Emergency and Substance Misuse, 3 experienced nurses with backgrounds in A&E, Safeguarding and Custody Nursing, 1 paramedic, 3 health link workers, 2 mental health nurses, 2 peer support workers and 1 team administrator.  Together we cover the whole of Somerset taking healthcare to anyone that is homeless, rough sleeping or living in temporary accommodation such as, sofa surfing, YMCA, hostels, caravans, tents etc… we also have 2 Health Inclusion GP’s that work alongside us on a part time basis at our drop-in’s.

We have set up nurse led drop-in clinics in a variety of venues which are easily assessable for our clients, alongside these drop -ins the nurses will ‘see and treat’ in the community, whether it is in a field or a shop doorway we will take healthcare to them.

The team work closely with the ICB, dual diagnosis, the council, public health, police, the ambulance service, probation amongst others. Primary and secondary care also refer to our team.

As a team we are very proud of the work we are doing to bridge the gap in care, to rebuild trust, and to help our clients engage with mainstream care, but also helping to re-educate mainstream care to loosen their boundaries for this group in our society.

We can treat and assess the following issues:

• Basic Health Checks
• Wound care
• Blood tests including Hep C/Hep B/HIV testing/ Syphilis testing.
• Help with Medical Appointments
• Advise and support with medication concerns.
• Sexual health promotion, contraception advice and STI checks
• Dental health promotion
• Swabs, removal of stitches/staples
• Confidential advice/ advocacy

We accept referrals for Nursing care from any Service, including,

RSI Teams, County Council, Mental Health Teams, GPs, Hospitals, Police, Probation, HMPs, MIUs and A & E

Referrals can be made via our email:
HomelessNursing@somersetft.nhs.uk

Office Tel: 01643 701652 (This number does not have an answerphone)

Our Team of Nurses do not cover the following, but can support and help engage with:

• SDAS, Dual Diagnosis and Mental Health Teams
• Community Services such as Social Care, food banks and the CAB etc

Find out more at:
Homeless and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service for Somerset - Homeless and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service for Somerset (somersetft.nhs.uk)