London pilot scheme to provide financial advice to people in debts

Monday 19th April 2021 09:28 EDT
 

GPs will now also give sound financial advice to patients with long-term illness. Doctors will redirect patients to meet financial support link workers so that they can utilise the benefits of essential grants as they navigate through long-term illness and can deal with debts accordingly. The report titled, Impact on Urban Health and the Centre for Responsible Credit said, “Precarious tenancies and poor living conditions pair with ill health, especially mental ill health. We must focus on the private rented sector, making it more secure, affordable and accessible in cities, for maximum impact on health inequity.” The scheme, called Financial Shield, will be tested with 2,000 people in Lambeth and Southwark until September 2022.

Kieron Boyle, the chief executive of Impact on Urban Health, said: “People’s finances and health are connected: debt, money worries and financial insecurity can have a profound effect on our physical and mental health. This is especially the case in ‘cliff edge’ moments such as unexpected bills or delays in income.As a result, we’re proud to support the UK’s first model of social prescribing that includes debt advice, bringing together local authorities, housing associations and healthcare providers. We think this approach could spread to cities across the country.”

 Sangeeta Leahy, the director of public health for Southwark council, said: “We know that financial problems have a negative impact on people’s health and that someone’s health can affect their financial situation, so the breathing space and other support that Financial Shield provides will be so welcomed and could make all the difference to people’s situation, stress levels and in turn their health and wellbeing.”


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