Closure of Homeless GP Surgery ‘very worrying’
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A group of GP’s are criticising the closure of a specialised surgery for people experiencing homelessness.
The Gallowgate Hunter Street Practice closed at the end of last month. Deep End GP Scotland called the closure ‘very worrying’.
Glasgow city mission said: “The closure of Hunter Street is a blow to our guests as we have found it extremely difficult to get any guests referred to a GP in the G2 postcode. As far as we can see most GPs in G2 are private which excludes our guests.”
There is a concern for the knock-on effect this will have on already overburdened medical services. Glasgow currently has the highest homeless population in Scotland.
Colin McInnes of Homeless Project Scotland said “It would put homeless people in a more vulnerable situation.”
Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said “[we are] committed to improving outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and severe multiple derivation. In March 2022 most staff at Hunter Street were reorganised into the Complex Needs Service (CNS) following a period of engagement with key stakeholders including those with lived experience.”
“The CNS aims to provide multidisciplinary and multiagency support to people experiencing severe multiple adversity and we are pleased to confirm that from April 2023 the GP function will be incorporated into the Complex Needs Service.”
