Asylum seekers and refugee engagement
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Healthwatch Blackburn and Darwen examined asylum seeker and refugee’s experiences of using local services and the additional support available to them. The team engaged with service users at the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Drop-in Sessions over two months. Using informal interviews and focus groups, 60 people shared their views and experiences.
The feedback revealed that communication was a recurring them. Respondents suggested that there could be better explanation of diagnosis and ensuring that they understand the potential implications from taking medication. Language interpreting often fell to the patient’s children during appointments. In addition, the respondents reported that they would like to have more flexibility of appointments; to have more options with booking GP appointments and more time for children’s appointments. Respondents felt they were not taken seriously by health professionals and that the attitudes of staff could be improved by them introducing themselves to patients and create an environment where patients are comfortable to discuss their mental health.
The report made a number of recommendations including complying with guidance to ensure that patients understand the care they require, ensure that GP patients have access to a formal language interpreter and allow patients to make appointments in different ways via telephone or in person. The report also suggested that local services should review their Equality and Diversity training.
No service provider response was included in the report.