HOMELESS people across Hampshire should receive better access to healthcare in future, say NHS bosses.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is looking at ways of more effectively helping the homeless, who are 40 times more likely not to be registered with a GP than the general public.

There are 1,380 homeless households living in hostels across the county, including 39 in Winches-ter and 57 in Eastleigh.

However, health managers say that this does not include “a significant number of hidden homeless people” who do not register with councils for housing.

Health bosses have made it a priority to organise services for people with no roof over their head.

A PCT report said that “rough sleepers” have an estimated average life expectancy of just 42 years. It added: “They are four times more likely to die from unnatural causes, for example accidents, assaults, murders, drugs or alcohol poisoning.”

In a report to the county council’s health overview and scrutiny committee, trust bosses admit that there is currently “very little service provision” for the homeless.

Winchester’s Trinity Centre in St Paul’s Hill is one of just three projects across the county providing healthcare for them.