Rafighi, E;
Poduval, S;
Legido-Quigley, H;
Howard, N;
(2016)
National Health Service Principles as Experienced by Vulnerable London Migrants in "Austerity Britain": A Qualitative Study of Rights, Entitlements, and Civil-Society Advocacy.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
, 5
(10)
pp. 589-597.
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.50.
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Abstract
Background: Recent British National Health Service (NHS) reforms, in response to austerity and alleged ‘health tourism,’ could impose additional barriers to healthcare access for non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants. This study explores policy reform challenges and implications, using excerpts from the perspectives of non-EEA migrants and health advocates in London. Methods: A qualitative study design was selected. Data were collected through document review and 22 indepth interviews with non-EEA migrants and civil-society organisation representatives. Data were analysed thematically using the NHS principles. Results: The experiences of those ‘vulnerable migrants’ (ie, defined as adult non-EEA asylum-seekers, refugees, undocumented, low-skilled, and trafficked migrants susceptible to marginalised healthcare access) able to access health services were positive, with healthcare professionals generally demonstrating caring attitudes. However, general confusion existed about entitlements due to recent NHS changes, controversy over ‘health tourism,’ and challenges registering for health services or accessing secondary facilities. Factors requiring greater clarity or improvement included accessibility, communication, and clarity on general practitioner (GP) responsibilities and migrant entitlements. Conclusion: Legislation to restrict access to healthcare based on immigration status could further compromise the health of vulnerable individuals in Britain. This study highlights current challenges in health services policy and practice and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in healthcare advocacy (eg, helping the voices of the most vulnerable reach policy-makers). Thus, it contributes to broadening national discussions and enabling more nuanced interpretation of ongoing global debates on immigration and health.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | National Health Service Principles as Experienced by Vulnerable London Migrants in "Austerity Britain": A Qualitative Study of Rights, Entitlements, and Civil-Society Advocacy |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.15171/ijhpm.2016.50 |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2016.50 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright: © 2016 by Kerman University of Medical Sciences, bstracts and full texts (PDF format) of all articles published by IJHPM are freely accessible to everyone immediately upon publication. Reusing and publishing IJHPM published articles is permitted by following Creative Commons user license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Users are free to copy and redistribute the IJHPM published articles in any medium or format under the Creative commons license terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Migrant Health, National Health Service (NHS), England, London, Austerity |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10056912 |
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