Fears of UK government policy highlight the ‘chilling effect’ of immigration policy on access to healthcare.
This is according to a November 2018 report (pdf) from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on access to healthcare for those seeking asylum.
The report also finds that:
- There are clear barriers to accessing healthcare both at systemic policy level and in implementation and practice.
- People had been put off seeking care for fear of deportation and detention, or of accruing bills they could not pay.
- Healthcare providers, including non-clinical staff, lacked knowledge and understanding which resulted in people being wrongly denied healthcare.
- Fear of the possible cost meant people sometimes did not get antenatal and other maternity care early or often enough.
