Homeless people discharged from hospital had nowhere to go – until now

The hospital discharge network is cutting down A&E visits by homeless Londoners and helping them move into permanent homes

Thomas Stanney was cycling back to his temporary accommodation when a man opened his car door and Stanney crashed straight into it. The collision sent him tumbling onto the road and fractured his pelvis.

Stanney, who also has diabetes, was in hospital for six weeks. Faced with having nowhere to go once discharged, a team from St Mungo’s Broadway, a homelessness charity and housing association, came to see him and secured a place in the hospital discharge network (HDN) in Hackney, where patients can convalesce after a stay in hospital.

I get looked after so well that I’ve cut down [my alcohol intake] to three or four cans a day.

Related: How one London borough aims to improve homeless people’s health

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