Summary Report: Experiences of Refugees accessing and using Health and Social Care in BaNES and Swindon.

This is a report by Healthwatch Swindon and Bath and North East Somerset. The report looks at refugee access to health and care.

This report was written by a volunteer working on this project area.

The key themes identified were: 

• Language barrier
• Dental health
• Accessing services
• Mental health
• General Health and housing 

There are recommendations in this report:

• Overall the process of registering with the GP worked well in both areas.

• There is a lack of understanding with refugees of how the NHS works and this leads to confusion and frustration.

• There is a perception that refugees are placed at the back of the waiting list.

• Translation services could be improved, this includes support to book appointments with GPs.

• Dental Access needs to be improved.

• Specialist mental health support is needed for refugees.

• The impact of housing instability on physical and mental health needs to be recognised.

• There is a systemic issue that when refugees have to change area, they go back to the start with their NHS support.

There are no follow up actions in this report.