Ukrainian Refugee Health Needs to be Central to UK Home Office Response to Crisis, Say Doctors

Ukrainian Refugee Health Needs to be Central to UK Home Office Response to Crisis, Say Doctors

Becky McCall

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April 05, 2022

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As Ukranian refugees start to enter into the UK, the Home Office needs to turn their attention to their health needs, including physical and mental trauma, as well as chronic diseases, many of which will require urgent attention at the port of arrival, say doctors preparing to manage the influx. 

However, the lack of knowledge around numbers and time frame of refugee arrival is a sticking point, with latest reports suggesting that over 25,000 visas have now been granted under the two schemes designed to enable Ukranians fleeing the conflict seek refuge in the UK. When and how these people will actually physically arrive in the UK is unknown.

There are two schemes open to Ukranian refugees in the UK: the Ukraine Family scheme (to join a family member in UK) and the Ukraine Sponsorship scheme (someone in the UK supports a Ukranian individual under ‘Homes for Ukraine’).

Durga Sivasathiaseelan, MBBS, leads the Outreach Services for Doctors of the World (DOTW), part of humanitarian organisation, Médecins du Monde. DOTW provides care to people who find it hard to access official healthcare, including refugees and the homeless. 

Dr Sivasathiaseelan, who is also a GP, has provided medical help to newly arrived refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, and is now trying to prepare for the imminent arrival of refugees from Ukraine.

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