To ask the Minister of Health whether he will review the barriers to healthcare experienced by people who are homeless, including the requirement for photographic identification by GPs when, in many cases, identification can only be provided to a person with an address.

My Department is committed to understanding and responding to the healthcare needs of those who are homeless in Northern Ireland and the barriers they face. In January 2025 the Public Health Agency (PHA) initiated a procurement for a contractor to undertake the initial stage of a Homeless Health Needs Assessment across Northern Ireland to ultimately determine strategic priorities for the medium and long term.

Unfortunately, no contractors submitted a bid for this work; however, to ensure that some progress is made, PHA has commenced a more limited exercise to ascertain a Health Needs Assessment from the perspective of service providers and that report is expected to be completed by September 2025.

Officials from my Department are also involved in the Department for Communities (DfC) led work on the Interdepartmental Homelessness Action Plan (IDHAP) which addresses gaps in non-accommodation services including local enhanced general practitioner services.

One of the actions within the IDHAP relates to the Belfast Inclusion Health Service implementation of the three-year service delivery plan focusing on specific areas of Health and Social Care needs and taking into account the future strategic direction of homelessness and health, including the NICE Guidelines 2022 for integrated health and social care for people experiencing homelessness.

A further development in this area is the Complex Lives initiative established by the PHA, Belfast City Council, and the Housing Executive, which is operating and providing support to those who are homeless and at risk in the Belfast area. With a Multi-Disciplinary Team in place, it is providing a whole system, accountable care approach to supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantages with the aim of helping people engage, stabilise, and find a new way forward with their lives.

With regards to the requirement for photographic identification by GPs; in the circumstances where a patient would not be in possession of photographic identification (e.g. those experiencing homelessness), the GP surgery can discuss with the patients or their representative(s) what alternative documents are available that would be acceptable. The surgery may contact the Medical Registrations team in Business Services Organisation (BSO) to seek assistance, if required.

Where the GP Practice contact BSO about a case like this, BSO would advise the Practice to make contact with the Homeless shelter as it would normally be in a position to verify the person and supply a letter to this effect.

My Department continues to review and improve access to healthcare by working alongside other key stake holders to remove barriers experienced by the homeless where possible.