Rise in homeless leaving hospital

The number of people who have no home to go to after being discharged from hospital has jumped by 53 per cent in five years, the Tories claim.

According to research by the party, 6,204 people were recorded as having no fixed abode on discharge from hospital care in 2007, up from 4,048 in 2003.

And the number of patients admitted by hospitals with no fixed abode increased by 42 per cent from 4,984 in 2003 to 7,106 last year.

The findings were obtained by the Tories using the Freedom of Information Act and based on responses to requests from 103 of the 171 NHS Trusts in England.

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said the figures highlighted a "dramatic" increase in the numbers of people leaving hospital into homelessness.

The data is contained in a report by Mr Shapps - Discharged to no fixed abode - which demands the NHS, local authorities and homeless organisations recognise the problem of "hospital homelessness".

It calls for best practice to be encouraged across the NHS and says intervention prior to discharge will provide social and financial savings.

The report says: "People suffering with serious medical conditions are being discharged to homes they don't have.

"It will then cost the NHS far more when these people return to hospital with exacerbated chronic conditions."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Everybody is entitled to the best possible healthcare on the NHS, including homeless people.

"We are making progress on addressing the needs of homeless people. Patients do not need a permanent address to register with their GP or access healthcare more widely."

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