Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants
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Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants Registering at your Practice- General
Vaccinations, Immunisations and Screening – General
Vaccination Schedule for Ukraine (who.int)
Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants Registering at your Practice- General
GP practices are not required to ask for proof of identity, address or immigration status from patients wishing to register. NHS guidance on how to register with a GP surgery clearly outlines that a practice cannot refuse a patient because they do not have proof of address or immigration status.
The following resources provide useful advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients for healthcare practitioners:
- How to register with a GP surgery – NHS
- BMA Guidance on patient registration for GP practices
- Migrant health guide – GOV.UK
- BMA Refugees, Overseas Visitors & Vulnerable Migrants Health Toolkit
- CQC: Registration and treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants
- Bilingual versions of the GMS1 form
- Please click here to view some helpful tips from our PM Supporter Sue Scott
- Wessex LMCs : FAQs on treating overseas patients
Ukrainian Refugees
- June 2022– NHSE published a letter and two service specifications setting out expectations and support around GP registration and the management of the initial health needs for individuals and families coming to England fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
- To ensure there is a robust approach to identifying individual’s initial health needs (both for all current and future arrivals) NHSE are asking all systems to locally commission additional capacity for delivering robust initial health assessments. Assessment of any safeguarding concerns will be a key priority alongside assessment of health needs, keeping people safe and taking appropriate actions to prevent harm.
- UKHSA Arrivals from the Ukraine – Advice for Primary Care
Vaccinations, Immunisations and Screening – General
This UKHSA guide is for anyone who has moved to the UK and advises them on the need to register with a GP to get up to date with their routine vaccinations. It explains the vaccines that at risk people with health conditions, pregnant women, infants, children and older adults need and the diseases this will help protect them from. It also signposts to the health services and where to get assistance and how to use the services.
These patients should be routinely vaccinated as per the incomplete immunisation schedule using the age-appropriate algorithm (which includes adults). Vaccination of individuals with uncertain or incomplete immunisation
Consider screening for infestation with lice. Screening for tuberculosis can be considered in accordance with national guidelines.
Consider Vitamin D deficiency: PHE publishes new advice on vitamin D
The following resource is intended to help staff in general practice ascertain what vaccines individuals moving to England from abroad may have received and compares UK and International immunisation schedules. UK and international immunisation schedules comparison tool – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Vaccination Schedule for Ukraine (who.int)
- Birth Hep B, BCG
- 2 months Polio
- 4 months Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Polio and HIB
- 6 months Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Polio
- 12 months HIB, MMR
- 18 months Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Polio
- 6 Years Diphtheria, Tetanus, MMR, Polio
- 14 years Polio
- 16 years Tetanus, Diphtheria (this is then given as a booster every 10 years throughout adulthood)
Accessing Healthcare Translated Resources
Here is a summary of some of the current available resources not otherwise referenced on this page:
- GP Access Cards
- TRANSLATED HEALTH INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS – Doctors of the World
- Paper copies of the Moved to the UK – migrant health immunisation leaflet – Health Publicationsare available to order free of charge. Translated versions are available to download or print locally from the same website in several languages.