Working with our European colleagues, we secured an Horizon2020 grant called CANCERLESS to develop, implement, and pilot a Health Navigation and Patient Empowerment Model to address cancer prevention and diagnosis among people experiencing homelessness across Europe.
People experiencing homelessness have a high prevalence of ill health and early mortality, including a higher burden of cancer, associated with barriers to accessing primary and secondary prevention and community health services.
We developed the Health Navigator Model through several exercises with key stakeholders, as well as people experiencing homelessness. These exercises aimed to develop the most appropriate model to embed into healthcare systems for people experiencing homelessness.
Under the Model, Health Navigators (often with lived experience, i.e. previously homeless) embed themselves in the population of people experiencing homelessness, develop trusting relationships, and subsequently work with local GP services, wider healthcare (e.g. screening services) and charities to support and navigate clients with their healthcare needs.
The Model is exceptionally flexible and can be adapted and implemented for varying population groups. Ultimately, it addresses health in the present time (health navigation) and aids in the prevention of future health complications (patient empowerment).
Working closely with Cancer Alliance East, we are implementing the Model at four sites in the East of England for two years in the first instance. We are also now applying the Model to other underrepresented populations, such as those on probation.