In June 2024 we undertook a year-long Homelessness Palliative Care Outreach Project. This developed in response to evidence that people experiencing homelessness face significantly poorer health outcomes and die on average 30 years earlier than the general population.

In Oxfordshire, mortality rates are around four times higher than the national average, with a median age at death of 46 for men and 40.5 for women.

The project combined clinical outreach, education, and multi-agency partnership working.

The project team consisted of a senior specialist palliative nurse, EDI officer, and Volunteer Lead of the Lived Experience Advisory Forum (LEAF).

The specialist palliative nurse worked alongside homelessness organisations to build relationships, improve understanding of palliative care, and enable earlier, more appropriate referrals. This also strengthened insight into the complex impact of poverty, trauma and exclusion at end of life.

A subsequent bridging project established a Palliative Care Inclusion Health Team, embedding learning into routine practice, extending reach to other marginalised groups, and ensuring sustainable, trauma-informed, person-centred care delivery.

Contact the team: pallcarehomelessness@ouh.nhs.uk

This project was made possible thanks to:

• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Hospice UK
• Sobell House Hospice Charity
• St James Place Charitable Foundation
• The Gatehouse (focus group site)
• O’Hanlon House (focus group site)