HOMELESSNESS AND END OF LIFE CARE

Motion Text

That this House welcomes the end-of-life care for homeless people: A qualitative analysis exploring the challenges to access and provision of palliative care by Dr Caroline Shulman et al, published on 3 July 2017; recognises the report's findings that many homeless people are dying in unsupported, unacceptable situations; notes the lack of appropriate places of care for people who are homeless with high support needs, particularly in combination with substance misuse issues; further notes that due to the lack of alternatives, homeless people with advanced ill health often remain in hostels; is concerned that the conflict between the recovery-focused nature of many services and the realities of health and illness for often young homeless people result in a lack of person-centred care; calls on the Government to ensure greater multidisciplinary working, extended in-reach into hostels from health and social services and training for all professional groups; and further calls for more access to appropriate supported accommodation to improve care for homeless people with advanced ill health, including a pilot for specialist hospices and hospice beds in hostels for end of life care for homeless people.