MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING RESOURCE
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Accessing health services
Health services in Britain are divided into primary and secondary care services. Primary care refers to general practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and walk-in health services. Secondary care refers to NHS hospital trusts, mental health trusts and other specialist services which require referral from a primary care practitioner. Refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to access all these services and are entitled to see GPs and hospital doctors free of charge. Those with refugee status or exceptional leave to remain (ELR) have the same rights to free services as British citizens. Asylum seekers, who are not entitled to benefits, may still get assistance with the cost of services such as NHS dental treatment.
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The National Health Service site offers a simple guide to the structure of the NHS, it explains the delivery of care by different sectors of the health service such as primary care trusts and NHS hospital trusts.
For a list of primary care trusts in your area, go to:
This is the latest entitlement table (Jan 05).
Asylum applicants and those with refugee status, or ELR/ELE have free access to NHS accident and emergency, maternity and in-patient/out-patient services.Regulations covering charges to overseas visitors for NHS hospital treatment are the Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 306, Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 602, NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors Amendment regulations 1991 No. 438) and NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors regulations 1994 No. 1535).
The Refugee Council outlines the entitlement of refugees and asylum seekers to primary and secondary health care services and to assistance with the cost of those services. They also list key information sources and contacts regarding health care provision for refugees.
Provides information for community care services
Charles Watters, 2003
Watters argues that mental health service providers should develop a more holistic approach to the care of refugees and asylum seekers.
Updated 2006
This position statement of the Transcultural Special Interest Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists explores the difficulties refugees face in accessing mental health services, due to lack of awareness about entitlement to welfare and uncertainty when dealing with officialdom. It is possible, it concludes, that refugees may find current services inappropriate to their needs.
Angela Burnett and Yohannes Fassil, 2002
This comprehensive resource pack for health care workers includes information on refugees, eligibility for healthcare services, how to access services such as GPs and local resources available.
Angela Burnett, 2002
This briefing for the Medical Foundation includes a section on the legal rights of refugees to healthcare. Link on page 2.
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© 2003 HARP - Social Inclusion Research Programme |
