Maybush Medical Centre is committed to tackling the barriers faced by many migrants in accessing healthcare. This means we are proud to be a ‘safe surgery’ and pledge to ensure that everyone in our community receives the equitable quality healthcare they are entitled to. We will also ensure that our practice offers a welcoming space for everyone who seeks to use our services.
Developed by Doctors of the World UK, the ‘Safe Surgery’ initiative aims to ensure that the lack of ID, proof of address, immigration status or language are not barriers to patient registration.
WHY SAFE SURGERIES?
Everyone living in the UK is entitled to register and consult with a GP. It means we can prevent and treat illness early and create a healthier society for everyone. On average, patients have been in the UK almost 6 years, without ever having seen a GP. Most of these are migrants in vulnerable circumstances, who are often prevented from registering with a GP by administrative, language or other barriers. They include pregnant women, survivors of trafficking and people who have fled war, unable to get the healthcare they need. Until recently, the Home Office was using information held in primary care records to track down migrants. This made many patients too frightened to register with a GP.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
We have taken concrete steps, both at reception and in consultations, to ensure equity of access by:
WHAT IF A PATIENT NEEDS TO BE REFERRED TO SECONDARY CARE?
In England, some migrants, including refused asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, will be charged for secondary care (hospital or community services). While it’s important that GPs make referrals on clinical grounds alone, it can be helpful to understand charges they’re likely to face. Refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of trafficking are entitled to free secondary care. So are survivors of torture, female genital mutilation, and domestic or sexual violence, if their
treatment relates to their experience of violence. Some services are free for everyone, including treatment given in A&E, diagnosis and treatment of specific infectious diseases, and contraception. All urgent and immediately necessary treatment must be provided even if a
patient can’t pay; it will be billed for later. Maternity care is always considered immediately necessary.
WHAT IF THE HOME OFFICE CONTACT US FOR INFORMATION?
If someone working for the Home Office contacts us for details about a patient, we will ensure that no information is given without prior consideration of the GMC confidentiality guidance. General practices are under no legal obligation to provide information to the Home Office, unless there is a court order, a public health risk or it is in relation to a serious crime (murder, manslaughter or rape). Immigration offences are not considered serious crime.
