Read Pathway’s third annual report on our hospital partnership programme which shines a light on the achievements of the NHS hospital teams we support.
In 2024/5, the network of teams on Pathway’s Partnership Programme reduced returns to rough sleeping by 62% and to sofa surfing by 33%. They saved the NHS over £9 million per year in avoided costs and made over 13,000 bed days available for other patients by reducing readmissions and driving joined up working with community services.
These achievements come as demand for the teams’ services soar. In 2024/5, Pathway’s specialist teams helped 4,778 people, a huge 41% increase on 2023/4. With the latest government statistics revealing a 20% increase in rough sleeping, pressures on hospitals from rising homelessness are set to climb even further at a time when the NHS is under intense financial pressure.
This report underlines why expert homelessness teams must be seen as part of the solution for the cash-strapped NHS, and their widespread adoption should be a central plank of the Government’s forthcoming Homelessness Strategy.