Access to Healthcare for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Healthwatch Redbridge conducted interviews and a survey with 20 refugees and vulnerable migrants to gather their experiences of access to healthcare. 

The report found that vulnerable migrants, especially those with insecure immigration status, are deterred from accessing medical services. Some worry that they will have to pay for medical care and so avoid accessing services. There were issues with transport affecting their ability to access healthcare. People also reported that a lack of interpreting and translation was an issue when accessing services.

There were no recommendations in this report. However, the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group responded to the findings.