The HealthBus Trust, which operates in Bournemouth and surrounding areas, brought its award-winning mobile service to Speaker’s Court in an event hosted by Jessica Toale MP and Vikki Slade MP.
It was the charity’s first engagement at Westminster as it seeks to demonstrate how outreach healthcare can help end rough sleeping.
The HealthBus made its way to Parliament. (Image: Submitted)
Christopher Wakefield, Chair of the HealthBus Trust, said: “Bringing our mobile clinic to Parliament is a significant milestone for the HealthBus Trust.
“It highlights not only the scale of health inequalities faced by people experiencing homelessness, but also the effectiveness of taking healthcare directly to those who are too often excluded from mainstream services.”
HealthBus delivers nurse-led care through a fully equipped mobile clinic, offering services to rough sleepers who face barriers accessing traditional healthcare.
During the parliamentary visit, MPs had the opportunity to tour the clinic, speak with frontline nurses and volunteers, and learn how the model provides dignity and continuity of care.
The visit comes as the Government moves forward with its National Plan to End Homelessness.
HealthBus Trust met with ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care and is in ongoing discussions about how mobile healthcare can support wider efforts to reduce rough sleeping.
Mr Wakefield said: “Our model is built on trust, continuity and dignity.
“Values that are essential if we are to address complex health needs and ultimately support the Government’s ambition to end rough sleeping.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with Ministers and partners to explore how specialist outreach healthcare can be embedded more widely within neighbourhood health systems across the country.”
JESSICA TOALE MP (Image: Submitted)
Jessica Toale, the Labour MP for Bournemouth West, who co-hosted the visit, said: “I am proud to have supported HealthBus Trust in bringing their mobile clinic to Parliament for the first time.
“Their work in Bournemouth demonstrates how innovative, community-based healthcare can restore dignity and hope to people experiencing homelessness, while easing pressure on our NHS.
“If we are serious about ending rough sleeping, we must ensure healthcare reaches those who need it most, and HealthBus shows exactly how that can be done.”
Vikki Slade (Image: Supplied)
Vikki Slade MP, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: “The Healthbus Trust is making a real difference in Dorset by meeting people where they are, providing essential health services to groups who face significant barriers to access.
“This model shows that when we design services around people’s real circumstances, we can achieve better outcomes and transform lives.”