NHS Long Term Plan - Refugee and Asylum Seekers Women's Focus Group

Healthwatch Barnsley undertook research on the experiences of asylum seeker and refugee women in accessing health services as part of engagement on the NHS Long Term Plan. The focus group took place on 27 March 2019 and involved six women from the Barnsley Refugee Council Women’s Group.

Participants described significant difficulties accessing healthcare, including long waits for GP appointments, challenges navigating services, and problems communicating because of language barriers. Many reported being directed between different services and having to travel considerable distances for appointments, which created additional financial and practical challenges, particularly when attending with unwell children.

The women felt that more local healthcare provision, improved interpreter support, and a greater number of GP appointments, especially for children, would help address many of these issues. They also highlighted the need for clearer information about medications and valued the role that community pharmacies could play in supporting people to understand and manage their treatment. Mental health support for children was identified as a priority, with participants supporting the provision of services and mental health education within schools. 

Participants also believed that technology could improve access to care through services such as text message appointment systems, health-tracking tools, and translation support. The report concluded that language barriers, difficulties accessing local services, and the need for better support for children’s health and wellbeing were key issues for this group, alongside a desire for more healthcare services to be provided closer to where people live.