Street Outreach - On the move
Rough sleepers face a great many difficulties, not least of these being unable to obtain basic medical care. Having no fixed abode, rough sleepers are forced into a position of great difficulty when trying to register with a General Practitioner. Over the years Barnabus has been instrumental in helping to alleviate this problem for those in need.
Barnabus’s original mobile medical centre was a converted double-decker bus. This served us on the streets of Manchester for some three years before it was replaced by a purpose-built, thirty-five foot trailer unit. Recently the trailer has also been put into retirement and in its place Barnabus now has a Mercedes Sprinter van. The van has been converted and now accommodates a general seating area, a large volume of storage space, facilities to provide hot drinks and a DVD player!
On Monday nights the van is based in the red-light district where we work amongst the women involved in prostitution. The ladies come along for general medical advice and for information on sexually transmitted diseases, which are rife amongst the girls. It provides a place where they can call in for a cup of tea and a bit of TLC. The van is also used alongside our main street-based outreach where we come into contact with the homeless and disadvantaged, and many individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Our podiatrist is based in the van and is in constant demand, bathing and massaging sore feet, and administering whatever treatment is necessary to heal the wounds and sores that so commonly afflict our friends. Our paramedic and nurse are also kept extremely busy with basic care, advice and referrals. Although our facilities are somewhat restricted we continue to be a lifeline for a great many people.
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