Dental students provide Salvation Army residents with passport to health

It is often difficult for people in this situation to make and keep health care appointments and to access all the health information, advice and support they need.

The students have spent time talking to residents at Devonport Lifehouse to try to really understand the issues they face and what they require to help support a healthier life.

The students also organised a visit to the Devonport Dental Education Facility. This is where Plymouth University dental professions students treat NHS patients under the supervision of qualified dental care professionals, as part of their studies. The visit helped Devonport Lifehouse residents to become accustomed to the dental care environment and gave them the confidence and information needed to make an appointment.

At each session they discussed access to health services, how to obtain and use the information that is available, and how to navigate the complex relationship between health, benefits and finance, housing and other issues in a city where each is in different locations spread around Plymouth.