Our work
Through Luther Street Medical Centre, Oxford Homeless Medical Fund supports the only dedicated health service for homeless people in Oxford. OHMF also owns the building in which the Centre is based. Find out how you can help homeless people in Oxford by making a donation.
About Luther Street Medical Centre
Operating at the heart of a network of agencies for homeless people in Oxford, Luther Street Medical Centre provides a comprehensive range of specialist services. These include both primary health care and complementary services, and are delivered with a holistic approach to patients. The Centre's core NHS medical services are funded and managed by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust.
The Centre comprises a committed team of doctors, nurses and support workers. It has 560 registered patients and on average it sees 250 new patients each year. Many patients have multiple, complex and enduring health needs. More than half have an alcohol, drug or mental health issue or, increasingly, a combination of these. A third of patients have a chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, epilepsy or hepatitis C.
Expanded services
With the help of our supporters, OHMF funded the expansion of Luther Street Medical Centre's premises in 2005. This allowed the Centre significantly to expand the range of services for patients. This continues to provide substantial benefits for patients and a better working environment for the medical team.
Increased clinic space for GPs and nurses has led to an improvement in alcohol, drug, mental health and chronic disease services. There are also better facilities for the Substance Misuse Support Worker and specialists including an acupuncturist (funded by OHMF), a podiatrist, a clinical psychologist and psychiatrists.
As part of the expansion, we also funded a Community Dental Service, which runs a weekly clinic at the Centre. The Service has proved very popular and is likely to be expanded to meet demand.
Reaching out
With our support, Luther Street Medical Centre is reaching out to more and more vulnerable people in Oxford who are living on the streets, in emergency accommodation, hostels, bed & breakfasts, bedsits, squats and sleeping on friends' floors.
Patient Support Project
Through our new Promoting Access to Health Services (P.A.T.H.S.) project, volunteers provide vital support for vulnerable patients who attend Luther Street Medical Centre. Volunteers accompany patients to health appointments arranged by the Centre's doctors. All appointments are within Oxford City.
