Check out this exciting new collaborative project between MRCF, the London Deanery and NHS London designed to facilitate migrants and refugees' access to primary healthcare.
TEAM UP CASE STUDY
Migrant & Refugee Communities Forum (MRCF): Improving access to primary healthcare in London
Background
Migrants and refugees often face a huge challenge to get the health care that they need due to a complex asylum process and a lack of understanding from doctors of their needs and entitlements. Many have come from countries where there is no primary health care system. On top of this, language and cultural differences often make it difficult for GPs to communicate with people in these communities.
To help tackle these issues a team of five general practice trainees have joined forces with MRCF, a user-led, community forum working to promote the rights of migrants and refugees in London. MRCF provides a mentoring service for newly arrived migrants and refugees to help them access services and settle in to a new life in London.
To empower migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to access primary health care services through a mentoring project.
Activity and achievements
A focus group was conducted with the mentors to find out the main barriers to accessing health care and the health team researched entitlements for migrants and refugees, GP obligations and other services providing relevant support.
Using the information uncovered in the focus group, the team developed and delivered three educational sessions with the mentors and mentees about accessing primary health care:
- An introduction to primary care
- Entitlement to health care in the NHS and health advocacy
- Mental health
The sessions were well received with participants saying they found doing group work on case scenarios helped them to understand things better and they would like more sessions in the future. To supplement the information from the sessions the team created a resource pack with details of access to NHS services and third sector support services.
A questionnaire was used to assess the baseline use of services, communication with GPs and mental health and this will be repeated after three months to assess impact of the sessions on use of primary healthcare services.
Legacy
Resource packs have been produced for MRCF and local GP. St Mary's GPVTS have received an education session run by Doctors of the World and there is potential for an on-going partnership between MRCF and St Mary's GPVTS.
“Working in central London we met with migrants and refugees on a regular basis and we were aware of some of the difficulties they faced. As GP trainees we are very aware of the benefits of good primary care and the importance of everyone having equal access. The Team Up project gave us the impetus to try and do something to help. We learnt a huge amount about the difficulties people face trying to access primary care and how we as GPs have a key role as the point of first entry to health care in the NHS. Our experience will help us to treat patients with compassion. Our legacy will be to share this knowledge with our colleagues to help ensure equality of access and compassionate healthcare for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in London.”
- Dr Bridget Kiely, Health Team Leader
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