Working with the rough sleeper community in Hull to improve services

Work is currently taking place across Hull to better understand the experience of rough sleepers when they access ambulance services.

Over the next few months, Healthwatch Hull will be supporting Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to talk to rough sleepers across the city to gain a clear picture of any access issues they have when they use services, including the 999 emergency service, NHS 111 and the non-emergency Patient Transport Service.

Data shows that there is high demand for emergency services from rough sleepers in the city, with individuals accessing 999 regularly.

The work is being funded by the YAS Charity and all the feedback gathered will be used to understand issues and concerns and will, in turn, help Yorkshire Ambulance Service and its partners to drive improvements.

Lewis Etoria, Senior Community Engagement Manager with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “Working closely with our communities is the best way of understanding how we can improve our services for the people who use them.

“This work with the rough sleeper community will provide both us and our partners with valuable information and insight which we can then turn into real improvements for them when they need to access urgent and emergency services.”

Carrie Duran, of Healthwatch Hull, said: “Over the next six months we will be gathering insights from the rough sleeper community, ambulance staff and local partners to gain a full picture of ambulance access issues for the rough sleeper community. We will do this in a number of ways, through surveys, one-to-one interviews and focus groups.

“Healthwatch is also looking for a small number of enthusiastic volunteers who have previous lived experience of rough sleeping, to help shape the work and support the engagement activity.”

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Healthwatch Hull on enquiries@healthwatchkingstonuponhull.co.uk or call Carrie Duran on 01482 595505. Or you can complete this booking form https://forms.office.com/e/m0Ssz5F1sF.