Health experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in Wales

BackgroundThe numbers of asylum seekers and refugees in Wales have recently increased sharply, but we know little of their health experiences.AimTo investigate asylum seekers’ and refugees’ experiences of health care, especially what helped or hindered.MethodEight volunteer peer researchers were recruited from asylum-seeking and refugee communities; and trained to run the quantitative survey. They worked in small groups with support from team members. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to describe, analyse, and present results.ResultsThe 210 responders included 90 known refugees, 89 known asylum seekers, and 11 known to have been refused asylum. Although 79% of responders reported attending an initial health assessment on arriving in Wales, and 94% reported that they were currently registered with a GP, only 36% found it easy or very easy to make an appointment with their GPs. Awareness of services was mixed: best known was the 999 service, with 77% reporting that they knew how to access it. Sixty-six per cent reported using health care in working hours, and 28% reported use out of hours. Key influences on these statistics included knowledge of the NHS and how to navigate it, language barriers, and cultural factors.ConclusionThis study provides valuable insight into asylum seekers’ and refugees’ experiences of health care. Together with our complementary qualitative study it suggests that a compassionate approach to providing care, building on existing good practice, and with additional resources for training and support services, can reduce healthcare inequalities for asylum seekers and refugees.