The Department of Health is to sponsor research to identify areas where homeless people have persistent trouble getting access to GPs. The initiative forms part of an action programme coming out of the second report of the government's social exclusion unit. It sets a target of reducing the number of rough sleepers by two-thirds by 2002. The DoH findings, to be published next summer, will go to ministers overseeing the social exclusion programme.

Rough Sleeping: second report by the social exclusion unit. Stationery Office.£7. Also at www.open.gov.uk/co/seu/seuhome.htm