OP4 Accessing unplanned and emergency health services – experiences of asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees living in wales

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. e3.2-e3
Author(s):  
Ashrafunnesa Khanom ◽  
Bridie Evans ◽  
Wedad Alonazi ◽  
Alex Glendenning ◽  
Matthew Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Out Of Hours Care ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees ◽  
Emergency Health Services

BackgroundNumbers of asylum seekers and refugees living in Wales have increased sharply. Many are liable to have unmet health needs and difficulty accessing services. We investigated the experience of, and access to, unplanned and emergency health services by asylum seekers, refugees and those refused asylum living in Wales.MethodWe surveyed 210 asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees and conducted eight focus groups with 57 participants (with interpreters present when necessary) to explore experiences. We used descriptive statistics to analyse survey data and framework analyses to analyse interview data.ResultsSurvey data showed awareness of unscheduled health services was mixed. Best known was the 999 ambulance service (72% reportedly had heard of and could contact this outside daytime hours). NHS111 was familiar to 36% but just a quarter (26%) had heard of and could contact GP out-of-hours services. Fewer than half of respondents (44%) knew of the Emergency Department. 26% reported using a health service out-of-hours. Focus group respondents with little English reported difficulty explaining their health needs, particularly in emergencies and when seeking telephone help through 999 and 111 calls. Others said they used emergency services if they did not know how to access routine and out-of-hours care or if they felt their efforts to see a GP did not resolve their problem.ConclusionLanguage barriers and poor knowledge of UK health systems mean asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees use emergency health services to meet needs which could be seen and treated in routine primary services. Language barriers using phone lines may also result in paramedic attendance or conveyance to Emergency Departments because health needs are not clearly identified. Better information and support may help this population access services which match their needs and support their health more effectively.

scholarly journals The mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees – challenges and solutions

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyal Sen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Cultural Brokers ◽  
Competency Training ◽  
Second World ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Global events like wars and natural disasters have led to the refugee population reaching numbers not seen since the Second World War. Attitudes to asylum have hardened, with the potential to compromise the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees. The challenges in providing mental healthcare for asylum seekers and refugees include working with the uncertainties of immigration status and cultural differences. Ways to meet the challenges include cultural competency training, availability of interpreters and cultural brokers as well as appropriately adapting modes of therapy. Service delivery should support adjustment to life in a foreign country. Never has the need been greater for psychiatrists to play a leadership role in the area.

Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees

BMJ ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 323 (7306) ◽  
pp. 229-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hodes ◽  
B K MacDonald ◽  
C J Mummery ◽  
D Heaney
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

scholarly journals The implementation of the nationwide out-of-hours phone number 1733 in Belgium: analysis of efficiency and safety

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitte Schoenmakers ◽  
Lukas Delmeiren ◽  
Sjors Pietermans ◽  
Marco Janssens ◽  
Chris Van Der Mullen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Out Of Hours Care ◽  
Telephone Operators ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Use Of Emergency Services

Abstract Background: Belgium has a problem with inappropriate use of emergency services. The government installed the number 1733 for out-of-hours care. Through a dry run test, we learned that 30% of all calls were allocated to the protocol ‘unclear problem’. In only 11.9% of all cases, there was an unclear problem. Methods: The study aimed to determine whether the adjusted protocol ‘unwell for no clear reason’ led to a safer and more efficient referral and to evaluate the efficiency and safety of the primary care protocols (PCPs). The study ran in cross-sectional design involving patients, General Practitioner Cooperatives and telephone operators. A random sample of calls to 1733 and patient referrals were assessed on efficiency and safety. Results: During 6 months in 2018, 11 622 calls to 1733 were registered. Seven hundred fifty-six of them were allocated to ‘unwell for no clear reason’, and a random sample of 180 calls was audited. To evaluate the PCPs, 202 calls were audited. The efficiency and safety of the protocol ‘unwell for no clear reason’ improved, and safety levels for under- and over-triage were not exceeded. The GP’s judged that 9/10 of all patient encounters were correctly referred. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the 1733-telephone triage system for out-of-hours care is successful if protocols, flow charts and emergency levels are well defined, monitored and operators are trained.

scholarly journals Mental healthcare for asylum-seekers and refugees residing in the United Kingdom: a scoping review of policies, barriers, and enablers

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Pollard ◽  
Natasha Howard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
National Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Abstract Background Since 2011, a large influx of asylum-seekers and refugees has put pressure on the UK’s under-resourced national health services and mental health services. Asylum-seekers and refugees (ASR) may experience traumatic events pre-departure, life-threating circumstances on their journeys, and difficulties integrating into host countries related to immigration policies, social isolation, poor living conditions, and unemployment, all of which can significantly affect their mental health. This topic is increasingly important due to the numbers of people seeking asylum and growing concern for their mental health on resettlement. This study examined UK-wide policies and guidance, healthcare practices, barriers, and enablers of mental healthcare for ASR residing in the UK. Methods We conducted a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley’s 2005 framework, which included semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from non-governmental organisations, academia, UK National Health Service, and community groups. We synthesised and analysed literature and interview data thematically to examine current barriers and potential enablers of ASR mental health support in the UK. Results We included 39 literature sources, of 1,638 identified, and 10 stakeholder interviews. Sources, most published in 2019 (n = 13), included data from England (n = 13), Scotland (n = 3), Wales (n = 3), and Northern Ireland (n = 2) and covered access to care (n = 16), mental health disorders (n = 7), impacts on health (n = 7), barriers to care (n = 13), policies and plans (n = 4), and clinical recommendations (n = 3). Synthesised themes from literature and interviews included existing barriers (i.e. communication difficulties and lack of funding, resources, and political will) and potential enablers (i.e. proposed provision practices, social needs of ASR, and policy changes). Conclusions There is a gap in the literature regarding UK-wide assessment of access and delivery of mental healthcare for ASR in the UK. Time sensitive and culturally appropriate approaches are needed, with greater funding and resource support from the UK Government. This study provides justification for a call to relax hostile environment policies, and for ASR-specific mental health services and support to be considered within the UK. Further research is needed to assess implementation of guidelines across the UK.

scholarly journals Mental health services for asylum seekers and refugees: a snapshot

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Katy Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Competing Demands ◽  
The Face ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

As fellow human beings uproot their lives in search of protection, and for those who survive to reach European shores, many countries are faced with an unprecedented, highly complex challenge of managing huge and immediate need. Clearly, immigration agencies are front line in this scenario, but they are closely followed by accommodation, subsistence, community and health agencies. It is widely recognised that the mental health burden of asylum seekers is large and the stir of growing interest at a clinical level in addressing that burden is encouraging. Mental health services have been aware of asylum seekers and refugees for decades but we have grappled with our role, been confused by the relevance of a political dimension and overwhelmed with how to manage diverse need, in the face of endless competing demands. Mental health services for asylum seekers and refugees have largely evolved in many and varied ways, dependent on local need and interest.

An integrated healthcare service for asylum seekers and refugees in the South-Eastern Region of Melbourne: Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquie McBride ◽  
Andrew Block ◽  
Alana Russo
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Refugee Health ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Client Feedback ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Migrant Groups ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Asylum seekers and refugees generally have poorer health than the broader Australian population. However, these groups experience a range of barriers to accessing universal health services. Generalist and specialist refugee health services have been established in Australia to improve the health of humanitarian migrant groups. This article describes a refugee health service established in a high-settlement region of Melbourne, Australia, and explores clients’ experiences with the service. Client feedback was captured through interviews (n=18) and surveys (n=159). Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the service, and highlighted the value in having trusting relationships with staff, access to bicultural workers, onsite interpreting services and integrated care. The findings indicate that it is possible to engage asylum seekers and refugees through healthcare delivery that is responsive to the unique needs of this priority population.

scholarly journals Barriers to Accessing Medicines among Syrian Asylum Seekers and Refugees in a German Federal State

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Saleh Aljadeeah ◽  
Veronika J. Wirtz ◽  
Eckhard Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pork Products ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

In Germany, asylum seekers and refugees (AS&Rs) face challenges when accessing healthcare services including medicines. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers to accessing medicines among Syrian AS&Rs in the state of North Rheine-Westphalia, and to provide an understanding of their perspectives towards taking medicines that contain alcohol or pork products. This study is based on a cross-sectional survey using a combination of sampling methods. We used descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data. Participants’ answers to an open-ended question yielded qualitative data that were categorized based on the thematic areas they discussed or addressed. Among the 1641 respondents, language barriers had more of an effect on the access to medicines than any other factor studied. The effect of language barriers on access to medicines was more pronounced for female participants, those who were older than 50 years, and participants who had chronic diseases in comparison to the other groups of participants. Male participants and those younger than 50 years of age showed more acceptance towards taking medicines that contain alcohol or pork products. Based on our results, we recommend providing more support for AS&Rs to learn the German language, particularly for female refugees, older refugees, and those with chronic diseases or disabilities. We also recommend providing translated medical leaflets for patients who wish to receive them in their native language. Healthcare providers should try to consider the special conditions of AS&Rs patients and take into account their perspectives about treatments and diseases.

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