London Calling May 14, 2008
Posted by western4uk in Demand, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Health Needs, Primary Care, Social Exclusion, Voluntary Sector.Tags: Eligibility Criteria, Grey Literature, Immigration, NHS, Primary Care, Voluntary Sector
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Project: London is a clinic of Medecins Du Monde (UK) which aims to support migrants that need help accessing healthcare. It has just published its second annual report the Project: London report and recommendations 2007: Improving access to healthcare for the community’s most vulnerable.
The report finds no evidence of health tourism, with patients had been in the UK for an average of 3 years before accessing care from Project: London. Migrants are no more likely to have expensive, complicated medical needs than anyone else. It also identifies difficulties for pregnant women in accessing proper care. Although they were entitled, nearly 70% of the women had no access to care, a situation which puts both mother and child in jeopardy, and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Proposed changes to NHS access for migrants are unlikely to be cost effective because:
- Lack of GP access means no chance of preventing diseases
- Lack of GP access means no chance of early and affordable treatment of diseases – including those which are contagious
- Lack of GP access is likely to lead to increased pressure on already burdened A&E department.
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