Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK
This article contributes new insights into how refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experience access to healthcare in the UK from both the perspective of caseworker volunteers and the assessment of policy regulations that influence such experiences. Drawing on material taken from qual...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | SSM - Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560322000287 |
| _version_ | 1797975801938837504 |
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| author | Zara Asif Hanna Kienzler |
| author_facet | Zara Asif Hanna Kienzler |
| author_sort | Zara Asif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article contributes new insights into how refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experience access to healthcare in the UK from both the perspective of caseworker volunteers and the assessment of policy regulations that influence such experiences. Drawing on material taken from qualitative interviews conducted with Doctors of the World caseworkers and Freedom of Information documents from NHS trusts, we reveal the various complexities faced by refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants when trying to access vital health care. These issues include, charging regulations, the refusal to register patients at GP practices without proof of ID, language barriers and complications navigating the healthcare system. We found that such deterrents lead to risky help and health seeking, lack of or inadequate healthcare, and worse health outcomes among these populations. DOTW caseworkers perceived policies such as charging regulations, to be unjust as they plunge patients into significant debt, which is reported to the Home Office and can lead to the detainment or deportation of patients and their families. Study participants called on the UK government to recognise health as a fundamental human right, to develop inclusive social policy and to create an empathetic health system that allows refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants equitable access to health and social services. To achieve health for all, they argued the need for clearer guidelines regarding access to healthcare and charging regulations, with some suggesting the importance of revising current Department of Health and Social Care policies and Home Office measures. Our article concludes that there is a need to tackle the underlying causes of ill health, including discriminatory policies, racism, and exclusion; addressing the social and economic determinants of health; and providing meaningful and culturally sensitive healthcare and social support. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:41:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57ae4f5cb6d7449e9a830859e7277f67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:41:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM - Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-57ae4f5cb6d7449e9a830859e7277f672022-12-28T04:19:46ZengElsevierSSM - Mental Health2666-56032022-12-012100088Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UKZara Asif0Hanna Kienzler1ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London, Melbourne House 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, Bush House (NE) 3.1540 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG, UK; Corresponding author. Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, Bush House (NE) 3.1540 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG, UK.ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College London, Melbourne House 44-46 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LL, UK; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, Bush House (NE) 3.1540 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG, UKThis article contributes new insights into how refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants experience access to healthcare in the UK from both the perspective of caseworker volunteers and the assessment of policy regulations that influence such experiences. Drawing on material taken from qualitative interviews conducted with Doctors of the World caseworkers and Freedom of Information documents from NHS trusts, we reveal the various complexities faced by refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants when trying to access vital health care. These issues include, charging regulations, the refusal to register patients at GP practices without proof of ID, language barriers and complications navigating the healthcare system. We found that such deterrents lead to risky help and health seeking, lack of or inadequate healthcare, and worse health outcomes among these populations. DOTW caseworkers perceived policies such as charging regulations, to be unjust as they plunge patients into significant debt, which is reported to the Home Office and can lead to the detainment or deportation of patients and their families. Study participants called on the UK government to recognise health as a fundamental human right, to develop inclusive social policy and to create an empathetic health system that allows refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants equitable access to health and social services. To achieve health for all, they argued the need for clearer guidelines regarding access to healthcare and charging regulations, with some suggesting the importance of revising current Department of Health and Social Care policies and Home Office measures. Our article concludes that there is a need to tackle the underlying causes of ill health, including discriminatory policies, racism, and exclusion; addressing the social and economic determinants of health; and providing meaningful and culturally sensitive healthcare and social support.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560322000287RefugeesAsylum seekersUndocumented migrantsHealthcare accessCharging regulationsSocial determinants of health |
| spellingShingle | Zara Asif Hanna Kienzler Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK SSM - Mental Health Refugees Asylum seekers Undocumented migrants Healthcare access Charging regulations Social determinants of health |
| title | Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK |
| title_full | Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK |
| title_fullStr | Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK |
| title_short | Structural barriers to refugee, asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access. Perceptions of Doctors of the World caseworkers in the UK |
| title_sort | structural barriers to refugee asylum seeker and undocumented migrant healthcare access perceptions of doctors of the world caseworkers in the uk |
| topic | Refugees Asylum seekers Undocumented migrants Healthcare access Charging regulations Social determinants of health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560322000287 |
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