Accessing healthcare

Supporting and empowering you to thrive. The Health Squad work with individuals and communities to tackle health inequalities across County Durham.

Are you:

Rough sleeping
Sofa surfing or ‘hidden homeless’
In supported accommodation
A prison leaver or on probation
A vulnerable migrant, including: asylum seekers, gypsy roma travellers and refugees
Misusing alcohol or substances
A sex worker
A Veteran
Affected by trauma

Do you have a:

If you have answered yes to any of the above, then we can support you.

We can support you to

You will be allocated a dedicated Health Squad team member who will help you access the support and healthcare you need, for however long you need it.

Accessing support

Drop in and meet us at a local venue or you can call us and we’ll arrange to meet at a suitable place, taking your needs into account.

Looking for events, groups or activities near you?

Feedback

"Confidential and compassionate service. Professional and lovely [practitioner] in all areas of the check up. "
"Once again, thank you so much for joining our sessions at City of Sanctuary. Our families were very pleased with the health assessments you kindly provided and we are really looking forward to your next visit. "
"I know myself and the women appreciate all you both do, a lot of professionals have attended the group and made empty promises, outstanding work from you both. "
"She has made an appointment with the doctor and they’ve referred her straight away for a scan. Sothank you for encouraging her to go and making her thinking about getting the lump checked out. "
"This successful health event demonstrates the importance of bringing health information and discussions to individuals who often get forgotten by society. The health events run by Health Squad are vital to the work we doas they engage individuals on various health needs and open up conversations about further support. "
"Today was a good idea. I enjoyed the company of others and had a health check and Hep C test. I’ve taken away a lot of information. "
"I liked the welfare checks and signposting to nearby health professionals. I enjoyed the lunch and calm safe living room chats. "
"They [Health Squad] actually interact with people, they don’t wait for them to come to them… They have done health checks on people we would never have expected to have one. "
"Thank you for checking in on me, it feels like you are the only one who actually cares and rings me. "
"If it wasn’t for you giving me a health check, I wouldn’t have gone to the GP. It could have been something worse. "

How we've helped

Accessing healthcare support during homelessness

‘Luke’ was well known to the Health Squad. He had been a rough sleeper in County Durham and the surrounding areas for a number of years and had never maintained a tenancy for longer than a couple of months. We invited to take part in a full health assessment, which he agreed to. During the health...

Simplifying the healthcare process for someone with accessibility issues

‘John’ had been known to the Health Squad for a long time, as after a triple heart bypass, he wanted continuous support to monitor his blood pressure. This steady process helped us to develop a positive and friendly relationship with him. It also led to an improved willingness for John to discuss his healthcare issues, which...

Overcoming barriers to access help for an abuse victim living through homelessness

After meeting ‘Lisa’, immediately significant concerns were noted about her welfare. She had been diagnosed with learning difficulties and had been homeless for around five years. She was also engaging in substance misuse and was a victim of ongoing sexual, physical, emotional and coercive abuse. The Health Squad team got into action to find meaningful support...

Accessing healthcare for untreated Hepatitis C in the midst of an unpredictable lifestyle

While running a health promotion event at a supported accommodation, ‘Gregory’ asked for advice from the Health Squad and disclosed he had previously been given a diagnosis of Hepatitis C five years before. Gregory was not aware this could easily be treated. Due to a chaotic lifestyle, lack of contact with healthcare services meant he’d never...

Stop smoking support and a health and wellbeing intervention following a relapse

‘Zach’ was in a community rehabilitation centre. While a resident, he relapsed, resulting in eviction, but was shortly allowed to recommence his support with the rehab and was offered a residential placement again. The Health Squad assessed him and identified a health need in that Zach wanted to quit smoking. Through the support provided by the...

A close relationship built between a Veterans Group and Health Squad

Health Squad has been supporting the Veterans Group at Bishop Auckland Football Club since September 2024. Initially the team supported the group with mini health assessments, which include the measurement of height, weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) waist to hip ratios, blood pressure, pulse, and a diabetes risk assessment. From April 2025, the team began carrying...

Large gathering of veterans and families at a dinner event

Supporting the refugee and migrant community at City of Sanctuary

The team from Health Squad recently visited a City of Sanctuary group to offer free health assessments to the families there. The feedback was positive and Anna Nemesh from City of Sanctuary said: “Our families were very pleased with the health assessments you kindly provided and we’re already looking forward to the next time.”