PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kelly Howells
AU  - Mat Amp
AU  - Martin Burrows
AU  - Jo Brown
AU  - Rachel Brennan
AU  - Joanne Dickinson
AU  - Shaun Jackson
AU  - Wan-Ley Yeung
AU  - Darren Ashcroft
AU  - Stephen Campbell
AU  - Thomas Blakeman
AU  - Caroline Sanders
TI  - Remote primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness: a qualitative study
AID  - 10.3399/BJGP.2021.0596
DP  - 2022 Jul 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - e492--e500
VI  - 72
IP  - 720
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/72/720/e492.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/72/720/e492.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2022 Jul 01; 72
AB  - Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption and change to the organisation of primary care, including for people experiencing homelessness who may not have access to a phone. Little is known about whether the recent changes required to deliver services to people experiencing homelessness will help to address or compound inequality in accessing care.Aim To explore the experience and impact of organisational and technology changes in response to COVID-19 on access to health care for people experiencing homelessness.Design and setting An action-led and participatory research methodology was employed in three case study sites made up of primary care services delivering care for people experiencing homelessness.Method Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 people experiencing homelessness and 22 clinicians and support workers. Interviews were analysed using a framework approach.Results The move to remote telephone consultations highlighted the difficulties experienced by participants in accessing health care. These barriers included problems at the practice level associated with remote triage as participants did not always have access to a phone or the means to pay for a phone call. This fostered increased reliance on support workers and clinicians working in the community to provide or facilitate a primary care appointment.Conclusion The findings have emphasised the importance of addressing practical and technology barriers as well as supporting communication and choice for mode of consultation. The authors argue that consultations should not be remote ‘by default’ and instead take into consideration both the clinical and social factors underpinning health.