Family Early Help
Are Afghan Refugee Families Entitled to Healthcare?
Yes they are. Refugees, asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers can register for and receive primary care free of charge in the same way as any other patient in any nation of the UK. This is because immigration and residency status have no bearing on a patient’s entitlement to register with a GP practice.
All refugees can access the full range of secondary care services free of charge in the UK.
Some NHS services are chargeable, but refugees may qualify for full or partial help with health costs under the low income scheme. You can find more information here (scroll to the bottom of the page):
What Else Should I Hold In Mind?
Families may be moved from bridging hotels at very short notice, and may not be staying in Camden for very long. This may impact on any physical or emotional treatment or health support that they start here in Camden.
That isn't a reason to delay, but its a factor to think about.
Who Can Help with Accessing Healthcare?
There is a primary care team onsite at each of the hotels. They can help with GP registration, getting an NHS number, initial health screening, vaccinations and immunisations, and signposting to secondary or acute clinical services. You can find their contact details here:
Here is a list of translated documents from Doctors of the World on on a range of health-related topics including COVID, wellbeing, registering with a GP, and right to healthcare
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How the NHS works and what to do if you have a health problem |
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How to register with a GP and Book a Vaccine |
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COVID-19 Guidance |
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COVID-19 Infographic |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance |
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Wellbeing Guidance |
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Keeping young people healthy. |
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Migrants’ Right to Healthcare |
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Selfcare Infographic |
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Flu Vaccine Guidance |
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Doctors of the World also have a Translated Health Information hub where you can filters the documents by keyword, narrow by topic or select your language or type you are looking for.
Links to Camden Health Services
The Guidebook has sections giving you information and links to a range of health services and support in Camden, all of which are available to refugees in the bridging hotels
- Physical health (including doctors, hospitals, dentists etc) https://ascpractice.camden.gov.uk/early-help-guide/family-early-help-covid-guidebook/health/
- Emotional health (including mental health services and pathways for children and adults) https://ascpractice.camden.gov.uk/early-help-guide/family-early-help-covid-guidebook/keeping-families-emotionally-well/
Camden and Islington Traumatic Stress Clinic
This service provides evidence-based psychological treatment for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD and has expertise in working with traumatised refugees and asylum-seekers, survivors of childhood abuse, torture survivors, victims of trafficking, and veterans.
Website includes referral details and resources on coping with anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
https://www.candi.nhs.uk/services/traumatic-stress-clinic
Refugee Therapy Centre (Barnet)
The Centre provides psychotherapy, counselling and associated treatments to refugees and asylum seekers in their own language. The Centre endeavours to help people to deal with and overcome psychological problems in a creative, supportive and caring environment in which they can better understand their feelings and experiences. Offers individual, couple, family and group therapy, as well as child and adolescent psychotherapy, based on an assessment of need.
More info and referral form here
https://www.mentalhealthcamden.co.uk/services/refugee-therapy-centre
Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre
Nafsiyat is an intercultural therapy centre committed to providing effective and accessible psychotherapy and counselling services to London's diverse religious, cultural, and ethnic communities. The team is comprised of experienced, fully qualified psychotherapists and counsellors from diverse backgrounds who are sensitive to the particular therapeutic needs of cultural minority groups.
The service offers short-term intercultural therapy in over 20 different languages, via referral, to individuals, groups, and couples. In addition to individual psychotherapy, they support couples and families.
More information here Learn More About Us — Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre