Refugee Council - Healthcare for refugees: Where are the gaps and how do we help? (2 November 2021)

Summary

Access to healthcare is a basic right, but refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK often face barriers to accessing health services. The Refugee Council has released this collection of guides and films for health professionals, decision-makers and NGOs to address health inequalities experienced by refugees and people seeking asylum.

Content

Resources and guides for healthcare professionals and policy-makers

• Refugee Council’s policy note on health barriers - outlines the main issues refugees and people seeking asylum experience when they access health services.
• Therapeutic IAHC Communication Card - a double-sided card with useful vocabulary and phrases with translations. It can be used to speed up and clarify communication about health problems with healthcare professionals, people who work in supporting organisations and members of the public. It has been translated into five languages: Albanian, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Tigrinya.
• Maternity guide for women on asylum support
• Maternity guide for professionals

These films are based on the Refugee Council's experience delivering the Health Access for Refugees Project (HARP):

• It is different over here: access to healthcare in the UK
• Experiencing the asylum process in the UK and impact on health
• Access to health for people seeking protection in the UK
• The right to be understood: the importance of interpreting
• Experts by Experience