A project to help homeless people in Luton receive flu vaccinations commences this week, when a team of health care professionals join forces to hold flu prevention drop-in clinics at a welfare centre for the homeless.

Following the success of last year’s flu prevention clinics, this year’s drop-in sessions are being held at the NOAH Welfare Shelter in Luton on Tuesday 6 and Tuesday 20 November from 9am to 4pm.

Nurses from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust (CCS) are administering the flu vaccinations and carrying out a mini health assessment to homeless people who attend the drop-in clinics. This winter service is being carried out alongside the weekly health clinic provided to Luton’s homeless by GPs from the Larkside Practice, which is commissioned by NHS Luton Clinical Commissioning Group(LCCG).  Luton Total Wellbeing Service will also be in attendance between 11.00am and 1.00pm to offer advice in relation to services available within the community.

Together the four organisations aim to help prevent the most vulnerable people who live on the streets of the town, from contracting a serious illness over the winter period.

Dr Chirag Bakhai, GP and Luton CCG’s Deputy Clinical Chair, said: “When the weather turns cold, the consequences can be potentially life threatening for Luton's homeless. By working closely together, we can offer our vulnerable homeless population flu vaccinations along with their weekly health assessments, which will help towards protecting their health this winter.”

Linda Sharkey, Service Director of CCS, said: "Last year I had the flu and it was awful - but I was in a warm comfortable home with support. It would be unimaginable for the majority of us to consider being ill and being homeless. We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable people in Luton and will be also running our annual 'warm coats' scheme to support homeless people.”

Paul Prosser, Head of Welfare Services at NOAH Enterprise, said: “NOAH seeks to alleviate poverty for the most disadvantaged people in society. Facilitating access to primary healthcare such as flu vaccinations can reduce emergency admissions and is often the start of a journey of recovery which can help people move away from homelessness into sustainable living’.

For more information visit: www.noahenterprise.org