A NEW GP outreach service for the homeless and prostitutes in Plymouth is proving vital for people in crisis, say doctors and hostel bosses.

Shekinah Mission chief executive John Hamblin said the service, which runs GP clinics in city homeless shelters, is preventing emergency admissions to hospital and mental health units.

Doctors are helping people deal with chronic drug, alcohol and mental health problems as well as identifying long-term conditions that have gone unchecked.

Launched six months ago as part of the Plymouth GP Health Centre based in Mount Gould, it is funded by the NHS and run by not-for-profit organisation Devon Health.

Mr Hamblin said: "Before it was set up we recognised a desperate need for a medical service that homeless people and rough sleepers could access.

"We were dealing with people in total crisis, due to drugs, alcohol and associated medical issues – having to get them to A&E or to Glenbourne.

"When people live on the fringes they are not often very good at putting their hands up for help."

He said crisis situations have noticeably decreased since the service was set up, as it provides early intervention and support for people in trouble.

"It's been brilliant," he said. "We have argued for a while that a little bit of money around prevention will save money in the long range.

"The demand for the service has been huge."

Two GPs – Dr Mary Embleton and Dr Pippa Smithson, and nurse Tina Bell – are seeing about 25 homeless people and sex workers a week at the city centre Shekinah Mission and Ship Hostel in Devonport.

It has seen a total of more than 300 patients in six months, and 182 have also registered with the Health Centre in Mount Gould.

They hold four sessions a week between the hostels.

Dr Embleton, the service's clinical lead, said: "It's been very successful, very quickly. What we've found is that about half the people we see didn't have a GP.

"This includes rough sleepers, but also the hidden homeless who are sofa surfing and hostel dwellers."

The medical staff liaise with other city agencies, such as the rehabilitation centre Harbour House, to provide support for patients and help them find accommodation.

Dr Embleton said: "There's homeless people who have arrived in the city with complex problems and we can get them quick access to the services they need."

She said the service also provides STD screening for sex workers and has identified long-term health problems among patients that have previously gone undetected, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Dr Embleton said the next step is setting up even closer links with other city agencies, and developing support for people with mental health issues.