A BOURNEMOUTH based charity which provides free drop-in clinics for homeless individuals has launched a campaign to buy a new bus.

Founded three years ago, the HealthBus provides a mobile health facility that travels to the areas of Bournemouth where people sleep rough, providing basic health care, a GP service and access to addiction and mental health support services.

The trust is looking to raise £60,000 for its ‘Get Back on the Road’ scheme in order to keep up with increased demands due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Operations Director Kate Hibbitt said: "Rough sleepers and the homeless are particularly vulnerable to catching and spreading Covid-19. It is difficult for them to physically distance, self-isolate and for them to access healthcare if they become ill.

"The current bus they hire is no longer adequate to see patients. A new bus will help them develop a more sustainable pathway to meet the ongoing health needs of this marginalised group and also help to reduce the risk of transmission during the Covid-19 crisis.

"Donations are needed to help BUY a bus that would serve as a mobile clinic so that the HealthBus Team can get back on the road in Bournemouth and surrounding areas to seeing patients in a safe space."

The HealthBus works in conjunction with Providence Surgery and local providers of homeless services including the hospitals. These partnerships help people find the support they need to move on in life.

During 2019, in one session each week, the charity had over 400 appointments attended by 170 patients, some of them coming many times.

Medical Director Dr Maggie Kirk added: “If I had the keys to a NEW BUS we could meet and treat 330 people in Bournemouth with essential healthcare.”

So far the service has been made possible by kind donations, a generous grant from the Nationwide Building Society and winter funding for immunisations from Public Health.