Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of accident and emergency (A&E) services by the homeless, with particular reference to the use of psychiatric services generated by this attendance. METHODS: A retrospective study of attendance registers at a large A&E department over an eight year period, during which there were 566 separate attendances by homeless patients out of a total of 421 237 adult attendances (1.3 per 1000). RESULTS: There was no significant change in rates of attendances over the eight year period (P = 0.41), in the broad demographic details of the groups, or in the use of psychiatric services. CONCLUSIONS: There has been no significant increase in the use of A&E services by homeless people in the population studied over the eight year period. Several possible explanations for this are given.