Health bosses have signed up to a scheme to help them understand the needs of homeless people.

Haringey Health and Wellbeing Board has signed St Mungo's Broadway Homeless Health Charter.

Councillor Peter Morton, Haringey Borough Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, formally signed the charter on behalf of the board at the charity's Vartry Road hostel.

He said: "St Mungo's Broadway's Homeless Health Charter is an excellent scheme. Evidence shows that homeless people are much more likely to have physical and mental health problems and a significantly lower life expectancy.

"By including homeless people in our health planning we will be better able to identify their needs and ensure that they can get the healthcare and support they need."

St Mungo's Broadway launched its Homeless Health Matters campaign in October and is asking its supporters to write to one of the 152 local health and wellbeing boards in England to urge them to sign the charter.

Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo's Broadway, said: "Homelessness hurts. Homeless people have some of the highest levels of poor health in our society but yet find it most difficult to access the help they need. We launched this campaign to demand action to improve the health of some of the most vulnerable.

"We thank Haringey and the other Boards who have signed our charter so far, and committed so quickly to include homeless people in their local health plans."