Written questions by Barker.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent street discharge from hospital settings for people rough sleeping.

The Department is committed to promoting safe and timely discharge for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to appropriate accommodation. Every acute hospital has access to a care transfer hub to manage discharge for people with more complex needs, who need extra support.The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published guidance and supporting materials for health and care staff on discharging people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/discharging-people-at-risk-of-or-experiencing-homelessness/discharging-people-at-risk-of-or-experiencing-homelessnessThis ensures that every health and care interaction with a homeless person acts as an opportunity to provide support and signposting, with the aim of ending rough sleeping. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the development of the Government’s plans for social and affordable housing.

How many Integrated Care Systems across England have policies targeted to better health outcomes for those that experience homelessness.

Integrated care systems and integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to have a dedicated focus on tackling health inequalities. The Health and Care Act 2022 mandates that ICBs reduce inequalities in access to and outcomes from healthcare for the population they serve. This includes groups experiencing the poorest health outcomes, often referred to as inclusion health populations, such as people experiencing homelessness, vulnerable migrants, sex workers, and people with substance use issues. In addition, the Department has supported the development of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness, and the Department is working across the health system to promote this guidance.

What steps his Department taking to use NHS dietitians to help reduce health inequalities.

Dietitians have an important contribution to reducing health inequalities. The Department published Addressing health inequalities across allied health professional (AHP) services: a guide for AHP system leaders in May 2024. The guide focuses on what AHP leaders need to know and what actions they can take at a system level to address health inequalities. This includes the utility of dietitians to reduce health inequalities. The guide is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/addressing-health-inequalities-across-allied-health-professional-ahp-services-a-guide-for-ahp-system-leaders/addressing-health-inequalities-across-allied-health-professional-ahp-services-a-guide-for-ahp-system-leadersWe continue to promote the framework, My role in tackling health inequalities: a framework for allied health professionals, published in 2021. This work describes how allied health professionals (AHPs), including dietitians, can raise awareness, take action, and optimise advocacy through six lenses: self; patients; clinical teams, pathway and service groups; communities and networks; systems; and nurturing the future. The framework is designed to support AHPs to do whatever they can, large or small, to tackle health inequalities. Each section of the framework is accompanied by examples of AHP-led work already under way across England. The framework is available at the following link:https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/reports/tackling-health-inequalities-framework-allied-health-professionals

If he will include health outcomes of those who experience homelessness in the NHS ten year plan.

The NHS 10-Year Plan will consider the change needed to meet the three health mission goals: a fairer system where everyone lives well for longer; a National Health Service that is there when people need it; and fewer lives lost to the biggest killers. Officials within the Department will work closely with partners across the health service and NHS England as the plan is developed to consider better health outcomes for socially excluded groups, including those experiencing homelessness.

What steps he is taking to improve (a) access to and (b) engagement with health and social care services for those who experience homelessness.

The Department recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development and implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance, which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng214NHS England has also delivered the Inclusion Health Framework, which includes focus on the homeless population. Inclusion health is an umbrella term which includes homeless people and is used to describe people who are socially excluded, and who typically experience multiple interacting risk factors for poor health, such as stigma, discrimination, poverty, violence, and complex trauma.https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG214

What plans his Department has to utilise the expertise of (a) dietitians and (b) other allied health professionals to tackle long-term healthcare challenges.

Dietitians are essential to a range of pathways detailed within the NHS Long Term Plan, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke as part of the multi-disciplinary team which includes the other allied health professions (AHPs).AHPs are critical to the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan, and plans to recover core services including, urgent and emergency care, urgent community services, primary care and community care, elective care, cancer, and diagnostics pathways. This is underpinned by the Allied Health Profession (AHPs) Strategy for England 2022 to 2027 AHPS Deliver, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/allied-health-professions-strategy-for-england-ahps-deliver.pdf