Turning Point Scotland has officially opened a new clinical facility at the charity’s established Holburn Street address to provide assertive outreach healthcare for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The clinical room is a significant investment, built to the same specifications used in a GP surgery and will be staffed by a senior nurse, enhancing access to primary healthcare services for the people Turning Point Scotland support.

Believed to be the first third sector model of this kind in the country, this work will complement the assertive outreach currently provided by Turning Point Scotland’s homelessness services in the city.

The clinical room will provide new opportunities to further develop work with key partners to improve pathways and access to healthcare services, while also providing space for visiting health professionals.

Formerly a back office, the development of the clinical room began in August 2023 with experience drawn from the charities Clinical and Care Governance department at the Glasgow Alcohol & Drug Recovery Residential and Stabilisation Service.

Turning Point Scotland, Head of North East Services, Colin Barnes said: “We discovered about a quarter of the almost 500 people we support through our homelessness services required assertive outreach for healthcare, and support to attend primary healthcare treatment.

“It is important our services in Aberdeen provide a holistic approach to supporting an individual. We can now play a part in ensuring dignified healthcare for people we support who are experiencing homelessness as we help them to overcome some of the barriers they face.”

Turning Point Scotland, Aberdeen Housing Services, Service Manager, Lynsey Blaney said: “Lindsay Ross was appointed in the role of Senior Nurse in July last year. He has almost 30 years of experience working locally, including in acute care and working with people experiencing problematic alcohol and drug use.

“We will be measuring the impact of his work, and aim to demonstrate how a health led response can enable people to move beyond homelessness and prevent homelessness reoccurring.”