RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Asylum seekers’ and refugees’ experiences of accessing health care: a qualitative study
JF BJGP Open
JO BJGP Open
FD Royal College of General Practitioners
SP BJGPO.2021.0059
DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0059
A1 Ashrafunnesa Khanom
A1 Wadad Alanazy
A1 Lauren Couzens
A1 Bridie Angela Evans
A1 Lucy Fagan
A1 Rebecca Fogarty
A1 Ann John
A1 Talha Khan
A1 Mark Rhys Kingston
A1 Samuel Moyo
A1 Alison Porter
A1 Melody Rhydderch
A1 Gillian Richardson
A1 Grace Rungua
A1 Ian Russell
A1 Helen Snooks
YR 2021
UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2021/08/10/BJGPO.2021.0059.abstract
AB Background Asylum seekers and refugees often experience poor health in host countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees requires hosts to ensure these sanctuary seekers have access to basic health care.Aim To identify barriers and facilitators that affect access to health care by asylum seekers and refugees in Wales.Design & setting Participatory research approach using qualitative focus groups across Wales, which hosts 10,000 refugees..Method Eight focus groups with asylum seekers, refugees and support workers and volunteers.(n=57)Results Specialist NHS-funded services and grant-aided Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) facilitate access to health care, including primary care. Most asylum seekers and refugees understand the role of general practice in providing and coordinating care but are unaware of services out of hours. Reported barriers include: language difficulties, health literacy, unrecognised needs, and the cost of travel to appointments. Participants recognise the importance of mental health, but were disappointed by the state of mental health care. Some fear seeking support for mental health from their GP, but few are aware they have the right to move practice if they were unhappy. Written information about health care is not as accessible to refugees as to asylum seekers. While some participants read such material before consulting, others struggle to access information when in need. Few participants are aware of health prevention services. Even when they know about services like smoking cessation, these services’ difficulty in accommodating asylum seekers and refugees is a barrier.Conclusion Main barriers are: availability of interpreters; knowledge about entitlements; and access to specialist services.