What are refugees and asylum seekers telling us about local services?
Between April and June 2024 we spoke to around 30 people who identified as either refugees or asylum seekers. This is what they told us.
Dentists
- Difficult to get an NHS dentist for adults and children.
- Uncertain if HC2 certificate (full help with health costs) affects this.
GPs
- Difficult to book an appointments due to demand.
- Positive experiences with The Haven, a a specialist primary healthcare service for asylum seekers and refugees who are new to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
- Mostly positive experiences with translators being offered and booked.
Hospitals
- Referrals can take a long time; individuals are not kept updated about this.
Mental health
- Quick referrals to The Hope Service, which helps asylum seekers, refugees and victims of trafficking who have experienced trauma in adulthood and have a primary diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Positive experiences with the Hope Service.
NHS 111
- Long waiting times.
- Uncertain if translators are provided for this service.
NHS App
- Mixed experiences of how easy it is to use.
- Inaccessible without ID.
Refugees' and asylum seekers' entitlement to NHS care
In the UK, refugees and asylum seekers with an active application or appeal are fully entitled to free NHS care. The situation for refused asylum seekers is more complicated and is not the same across all nations. Read more on the British Medical Association website.
NHS guidance says that patients should be able to access primary care services in a way that ensures their language and communication requirements do not prevent them receiving the same quality of healthcare as others.
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