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Asylum seekers and refugees
The Department of Health's Asylum Seeker Co-ordination Team (ASCT) co-ordinates healthcare policy for asylum seekers and refugees. The team works across the Department of Health and other Government departments, and with health workers and service planners in the field.
In particular, ASCT liaises with the Home Office to ensure that health and social care requirements are met at all stages of the asylum process, and taken into account in policy planning. Like other UK residents, persons with an outstanding application for refuge in the UK are entitled to use NHS services without charge. Asylum seekers are often from very different cultures, may not understand the principles behind the UK health system, may not speak English, and may have complex healthcare requirements.
Introduction to the National Health Service
This fact sheet explains the role of UK health services, the National Health Service (NHS), to newly-arrived individuals seeking asylum. It covers issues such as the role of GPs, their function as gatekeepers to the health services, how to register and how to access emergency services.
Entitlement to NHS treatment
The Department of Health appealed a High Court ruling, which found that, in certain circumstances, failed asylum seekers can pass the ordinary residence test that confers an automatic right to free NHS hospital treatment or, alternatively, be exempt from charges for hospital treatment after having spent one year in the UK.
In a judgement issued on 30 March 2009, the Court of Appeal found that failed asylum seekers can not be considered to pass the ordinary residence test, nor can they be considered exempt from charges by virtue of spending one year in the UK. This is now the law. The Court of Appeal also found that trusts have the discretion to withhold treatment pending payment and also the discretion to provide treatment where there is no prospect of paying for it. Trusts should take account of DH guidance when applying this discretion.
As the content of the table is subject to change, please check that you are referring to the most up-to-date version before disseminating any information taken from it.
Third national conference for nurses and health visitors working with asylum seekers and refugees
A DH sponsored residential conference took place on 5 and 6 March 2009 at the Park Inn Hotel, York. The conference covered a range of clinical, policy and legal issues through a mix of key presentation, workshops, discussions and networking.
Patient-held record for for asylum-seekers and refugees
Downloadable files of patient-held records for asylum-seekers and refugees, and their children, with patient instructions in various languages.
Contacts for further information
For questions about general asylum seeker health issues, contact:
Asylum Seeker Coordination Team
Department of Health
Room 8E10 Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds LS2 7UE
Tel: 0113 2546605
Fax: 0113 2545481
For questions about access to primary care for overseas visitors
Please contact your PCT for advice in the first instance. Any questions about access to primary care for overseas visitors which cannot be resolved by the PCT can be sent to the Department's mailbox for reply:
For any questions specifically relating to eligibility for free NHS hospital treatment for overseas visitors which cannot be resolved by the PCT
The Department provides a helpline number (0113 254 5819). If using this helpline, please note that it is not for questions about general asylum seeker health issues, or questions relating to personal medical services. Alternatively, you can email the Department's mailbox for reply:
Additional links
Swine flu
A summary of current information on swine flu can now be accessed for or by people who can not speak or read English and who may not have access to a regular flow of news, i.e. an asylum seeker or refugee, a temporary worker in the UK or even a member of an established migrant group.
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