Improving the health of homeless people
On 3 March 2005, the Minister for Health and Community Care and the Minister for Communities jointly launched the Scottish Government's Health and Homelessness Standards for NHS Boards. The standards are at the centre of the Scottish Government's commitment to improve the health of homeless people.
The Standards are built on the progress of the Health and Homelessness Guidance (Scottish Executive 2002) which resulted in all NHS Boards developing a Health and Homelessness Action Plan.
The Standards sit within the broader holistic framework to prevent and alleviate homelessness. Good partnerships should be in place to support complementary work across NHS, Local Authorities and the voluntary sector.
The Standards apply to all groups of homeless people and in addressing the Performance Requirements, NHS Boards will need to ensure that they take account of differing needs requiring excellent strategic linkages. They also relate to the Scottish Government's equality and diversity approach and should assist NHS Boards in using the Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment Toolkit.
Delivering the Standards will include taking forward the health recommendations made by the Homelessness Task Force.