The report from Doctors of the World reveals the time that migrants are being denied medical treatments in the UK. The research shows that migrants, asylum seekers and refugees needing treatment to wait an average of 37 weeks.
The report, “Delays & Destitution: An Audit of Doctors of the World’s Hospital Access Project”, follows the announcement of the Immigration Health Surcharge being increased from £400 to £624 a year.
Long waiting times
The report claims that the government’s “hostile environment” policy is to blame for the waiting times, with immigration checks in hospitals being one of the reasons. It also investigated the effect of NHS charges on access to healthcare for migrants.
Anna Miller, DOTW’s Head of Policy and Advocacy, who wrote the report said it: “Lays bare the impact of the NHS patient charging policy. Those who cannot afford to pay go without treatment, however much they need it. Over a fifth of service users were wrongfully charged for urgent medical care. Being unable to afford treatment was a reason for long delays, despite illnesses as serious as cancer, kidney failure or heart problems. It shows that the safeguards put in place to ensure urgent medical care is given regardless of a person’s ability to pay do not work, and patients suffer for months, alone.”
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