Initial Health Assessment Outreach Service

A new Initial Health Assessment Outreach Service for refugees and asylum seekers in hotels, has been commissioned by NHS North East London Integrated Care Board and will be delivered by Doctors of the World.

Refugees and asylum seekers often experience barriers to accessing health care such as having poor awareness of how to access health care, and the incorrect belief that they are not entitled to free NHS treatment.

The new service will hopefully alleviate some of the pressures currently being experienced in primary care. The service launched first in Newham, with a view to roll-out across other boroughs in the coming months.

Read an overview of the service which summarises the need, the outcomes that the service seeks to achieve, and how the service will interface with primary care. You can also read the patient journey.

The service will give fair and equal access, no matter country of origin, by providing individuals with a process to receive their initial health checks, and ensure they are registered with local GP services.

If you have any questions or would like to talk about the service more generally, please get in touch with Nicola Weaver and Melody Dhinda-Rees.