A “transformative” drop-in clinic for Nottingham’s homeless people has been widely praised by its users, with one rough sleeper saying he feels “like a different man”.
The first-of-its-kind respiratory clinic was set up in 2024 and has been a pioneering service that saves the lives of people sleeping rough in the city, and new figures now show it has been drastically cutting hospital admissions, A&E visits and ambulance call-outs.
It provides hospital-level respiratory assessments, including X-rays and blood tests, and many patients can avoid attending hospital as a result.
One person who used the service is 46-year-old Ross Nixon. He had been sleeping rough for three years in the city after leaving prison and struggling with his mental health.
Most people sleeping rough are experiencing what’s known as severe and multiple disadvantage, with various physical and mental health conditions keeping them entrenched on the streets.
The clinic was able to diagnose Mr Nixon with severe asthma and show him how to use his inhaler correctly.
He said it has been transformative, adding: “It’s amazing. I feel so much better.
“It’s like I’m a different man. Before I could only walk so far and I would get out of breath. They talked to me and I went in, and I’m glad I did because I feel so much better.
“I notice the difference when I’m sleeping. My breathing is much better. I used to be worried about sleeping in case my breathing would stop. I’m just lucky I’ve got workers around me who show me lots of love.”
The clinic is led by Professor of Respiratory Medicine Dominick Shaw, in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), City Care, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust and homelessness charity Framework.
Framework says the life expectancy of a rough sleeper in the UK is 44, according to the Office for National Statistics, with one of the most common causes of death being respiratory disease.
According to new figures from Nottingham’s hospital trust, A&E days have been brought down by 22 per cent, in-patient days are down 40 per cent, intensive care days have been reduced by 32 per cent and hospital re-attendance has dropped by up to 92 per cent.
Apollos Clifton-Brown, Framework’s director of health and social care said: “The latest data shows that our drop-in respiratory clinic is reducing pressure on hospitals while transforming the lives of some of Nottingham’s most vulnerable people.
“It highlights the real value of rethinking how and where care is delivered.
“By combining the strengths of the voluntary sector, NHS expertise and lived-experience insights, the partnership helps at the Nottingham Wellbeing Hub provide a level of support people cannot find elsewhere.”
The long-term aim for the clinic is to expand into a multidisciplinary service to deliver broader medical, dental and wound care on site.
Partner agencies such as Framework play a critical role in getting those sleeping rough to engage and attend the clinic, including through the charity’s outreach workers.
People who potentially need a respiratory review are identified by the outreach teams the night before their appointment and are encouraged to attend with a £5 voucher to cover a meal or hot drink.
“With such promising results, the clinic offers a model that could be replicated in other areas to benefit even more people and continue improving outcomes for those who need it most,” Mr Clifton-Brown said.
The clinic was last year nominated as a finalist in the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards for its important work.
The clinic’s success is due to be discussed at a Nottingham City Council health scrutiny meeting on 19 March.
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