Ukraine: migrant health guide for healthcare practitioners (last updated 14 July 2022)

Summary

Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Ukraine for healthcare practitioners.

Content

The key messages are:

• Screen all new entrants, including children, for tuberculosis (TB).
• (Due to low prevalence) look for hepatitis B risk factors that may indicate a need for screening.
• Consider screening for hepatitis C (considerably higher prevalence than the UK).
• There is a risk of typhoid infection.
• Consider nutritional and metabolic concerns.
• Work with a professional interpreter where language barriers are present.
• Consider the impacts of culture, religion and gender on health.
• Assess for mental health (and trauma) conditions.
• Support individuals and ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule, including making the offer of Covid vaccination (primary course, boosters, or completion of initial course if begun overseas)
• Refer pregnant women to antenatal care.
• Newly arrived individuals will need help on how to access the NHS, and this will include GP registration as the principle route for accessing services.

Individuals may struggle to provide proof of ID, address or confirmation of immigration status and their registration requests should be managed sensitively. None of these documents are required for registration and the inability of any individual to provide them is no reason to refuse registration.