scholarly journals Refugee and Immigrant Community Health Champions: a Qualitative Study of Perceived Barriers to Service Access and Utilisation of the National Health Service (NHS) in the West Midlands, UK

Author(s):  
Oliver Mudyarabikwa ◽  
Krishna Regmi ◽  
Sinead Ouillon ◽  
Raymond Simmonds

AbstractThere has been much discussion recently that better healthcare systems lead to increased service access and utilisation. However, there are still concerns raised among the refugee and immigrant communities about barriers to access and utilisation of primary healthcare services in the UK. This study aimed to explore with refugee and immigrant community health champions (CHCs) their perceptions about such barriers based on feedback in their own discussions with fellow refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants in the West Midlands, UK. A total of 42 refugees and immigrants were recruited. Qualitative design-focused group discussions were conducted among purposively selected participants. These discussions were conducted between May and September 2019, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The barriers to service access and utilisation are categorised into four themes: (i) knowledge about health issues that most affected refugees and immigrants; (ii) community indications of factors that obstructed service access; (iii) challenges in identifying local teams involved in service provision; and (iv) accurate knowledge about the different teams and their roles in facilitating access. This study higlighted that the levels of service access and utilisation would depend on the competence and effectiveness of the health system. Urgency and seriousness of individuals’ healthcare needs were the factors that were perceived to strongly influence refugees and immigrants to seek and utilise local services. We identified a number of potential barriers and challenges to service access and utilisation that should be overcome if primary healthcare service is to be planned and delivered effectively, efficiently and equitably in the West Midlands.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e028228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadie Bell ◽  
Michael Edelstein ◽  
Mateusz Zatoński ◽  
Mary Ramsay ◽  
Sandra Mounier-Jack

ObjectivesThis study explored vaccination attitudes and behaviours among Polish and Romanian communities, and related access to primary healthcare services.DesignA qualitative study using in-depth semistructured interviews with Polish and Romanian community members (CMs) and healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in vaccination in areas with large Polish and Romanian communities. CMs discussed their vaccination attitudes and their experiences of accessing vaccinations in England. HCWs shared their experiences in vaccinating Polish and Romanian communities.SettingRecruitment focused on three geographical areas in England with large Polish and Romanian populations (in London, Lincolnshire and Berkshire).Participants20 Polish and 10 Romanian CMs, and 20 HCWs. Most CMs were mothers or pregnant women and were recruited from London or Lincolnshire. HCWs included practice nurses, health visitors and school nurses recruited from the targeted geographical areas.ResultsAlthough most CMs reported vaccinating according to the UK schedule, obstacles to vaccination were highlighted. CMs experienced difficulties navigating and trusting the English primary healthcare system, and challenges in accessing credible vaccination information in Polish and Romanian. CM vaccination expectations, largely built on knowledge and experiences from Poland and Romania, were often unmet. This was driven by differences in vaccination scheduling and service provision in England, such as nurses delivering vaccines instead of doctors. CMs reported lower acceptance of the influenza vaccine, largely due to perceptions around the importance and efficacy of this vaccine. HCWs reported challenges translating and understanding vaccination histories, overcoming verbal communication barriers and ensuring vaccination schedule completeness among families travelling between England and Poland or Romania.ConclusionsThis study identified vaccination uptake and delivery issues and recommendations for improvement. HCWs should discuss health service expectations, highlight differences in vaccination scheduling and delivery between countries, and promote greater understanding of the English primary healthcare system in order to encourage vaccination in these communities.


1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-323
Author(s):  
A A Opaneye ◽  
E Parker ◽  
J Bailey ◽  
M Walzman ◽  
A A Wade
Keyword(s):  
The West ◽  

English Today ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-60
Author(s):  
Natalie Braber

West Midlands English: Birmingham and The Black Country forms part of the series Dialects of English which has so far included volumes on varieties such as: Urban North-Eastern English, Hong Kong English, Newfoundland and Labrador English, Irish English, Indian English, New Zealand English, Singapore English and Northern and Insular Scots. As such, it follows the general format of the series which covers the history and geography of a region, chapters on phonetics and phonology, grammar, lexis and a survey of previous works and bibliography. This contribution to the series follows this same general format and makes it applicable to the West Midlands region of the UK.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-132
Author(s):  
Hanna B. Gella ◽  
Merlita V. Caelian

Primary healthcare is integral to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.  A descriptive study assessed the implementation of primary healthcare services in community health stations through a researcher-made questionnaire among healthcare providers and beneficiaries of 30 community health stations.  The results revealed that, as a whole, the implementation of primary healthcare services in community health stations is great, with maternal and child healthcare implemented to a very great extent while the treatment of non-communicable diseases to a great extent only.  The major challenges encountered are the lack of medical drugs, supplies and equipment, and medical professionals.  Primary healthcare has made contributions to the community's health improvement; however, challenges imply that the quality and efficiency of the services need improvement. The study contributed to new knowledge on implementing healthcare at the lowest level of government, emphasizing patient-centeredness.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Reeves ◽  
Samuel Watson ◽  
Tanya Pankhurst ◽  
Kamlesh Khunti ◽  
Suzy Gallier ◽  
...  

Articles in the UK press have claimed that hospital admissions for heart attack and stroke have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, data from the West Midlands Ambulance Service have not shown any reduction in call-outs for patients with stroke or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. This study examined data from University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, comparing admissions from week 1 of 2016 to week 17 of 2019, with the same period in 2020, pre- and post-lockdown. The results showed that there was no evidence of a reduction in the overall mean number of admissions of patients with these conditions in the post-lockdown period.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Christopher Hokororo ◽  
Eliudi S. Eliakimu ◽  
Ruth Ngowi ◽  
Mohammed A. Mohammed ◽  
Hamisi M. Malebo ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Dar es Salaam is the region with a large number of Primary healthcare facilities (dispensaries and health centres) outnumber the available hospitals. Although policies on referral system are available, there is a gap in terms of compliance and adherence to the governance system. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients as compared to primary healthcare facilities, leading to poor quality of the healthcare services. The aim was to assess the needs of community members for primary healthcare services, as well as, to identify the reasons and determinants that influence mothers to bypass primary healthcare facilities.Methodology A cross-sectional study that assessed the determinants associated with pregnant mothers to bypass primary healthcare facilities in their healthcare needs. The study was conducted in Kinondoni, Ilala, Kigamboni, Temeke and Ubungo healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam region. It targeted all postnatal women. A consecutive sampling procedure was used and a total of 544 of respondents were involved in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on: social demographic; Clinical factors of the mother; Health services; and provider’s factors that might contribute to the observed bypass. Data were analysed in levels of univariate, bivariate and multivariate using SPSS statistical package number 20.Results A total of 544 respondents were interviewed. Mothers who bypassed the primary healthcare facilities were 94%. After adjustment it was found that, those with income more than 1USD a day were (OR=4.27, CI=1.8- 15.4, P=0.01) more likely to bypass the primary facilities and go straight to the upper levels of healthcare facilities.Conclusions This study has found postnatal women in Dar es Salaam region are at high chance of going straight to the secondary and tertiary Hospitals without passing at primary healthcare facilities. Nine in every ten postnatal women were found to have by passed the primary healthcare facilities. Findings from this study reveals a strong and urgent need to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and as well implement the referral guidelines on all clients who seek health care to reduce the bypass.


Author(s):  
Suzanna Tomassi

This chapter investigates the relationship between industry and academia from the perspective of industry. In addition to the theoretical review, it is based on feedback from industry leaders on how they see the role of their organizations in wider society. This chapter utilizes case studies to examine the relationship between specific companies, their academic partners, and the wider society. It focuses on the UK experience reflecting the location of its author. It specifically looks at the links between Coventry University, a British public institution located in the West Midlands, and its selected partners: the Unipart Group, Horiba MIRA, Interserve, and KPIT in India. It also refers to a bespoke Global Leaders Programme which is an exclusive, extra-curricular offering, designed to enhance students’ leadership and soft skills and prepare them for future employment after graduation. Wherever possible, the author aimed to obtain feedback from the industry representatives to assess their views on the impact of their companies on the wider society. In the same spirit, relevant colleagues from Coventry University were asked for their feedback to ensure that both perspectives were fairly captured. The examples given, and indeed, the philosophy behind the projects could be transferred to other countries and applied to other industries.


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