Asylum Seekers, refugees and people from emerging communities
Download (PDF 946.03 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Kirklees engaged locally to identify health issues, inequalities and barriers in newer migrants including asylum seekers, refugees and people from emerging communities such as Romania or Poland, to gain an understanding of the situation in Kirklees. This is because evidence shows that physical and mental health outcomes are poorer for non-UK born people, who generally arrive relatively healthy but experience deteriorating health over time.
Between January and October 2017, engagement work was carried out by speaking to service users and service providers at various community organisations and groups, the University of Leeds and Kirklees Council, as well as multi-agency steering group meetings.
In this detailed report, Healthwatch Kirklees explore: mental health and barriers to support, difficulties in understanding the system and completing forms, financial difficulties, language barriers and the isolation of women and children, communication barriers and lack of cultural awareness. Other keys areas discussed within the report are: access to primary care services, disease and negative health behaviours such as smoking, nutrition and substance abuse.
By way of conclusion, the report highlights 11 recommendations which address ways in which the healthcare system can make care accessible to those currently experiencing health inequality.