Our work as healthcare professionals, public health advocates and human rights activists is to raise awareness and mobilise the health community to advocate for the rights of all migrants. We hope to achieve this through education, advocacy and direct action. Our current projects include:
Education
We aim to increase knowledge and confidence amongst healthcare students and professionals about the
complex healthcare needs of forced migrants. We are currently looking to form a collective of healthcare students and professionals who can deliver access to healthcare training in universities and workplaces across the UK. No previous experience is required but you will need to attend a training session on access to healthcare (if interested please email us for dates). Advocacy
The governments expanded charging for non-EEA nationals and those without indefinite leave to remain in the UK through the NHS (Overseas Visitors Charging) act undermined the ability of healthcare professionals to protect and promote the health of their patients and the public. We are concerned about the impacts this has particularly on undocumented migrants as well as the risk of increased profiling of ethnic minority populations. Doctors have a duty of care to all people seeking healthcare and must not be expected to police the system or prevent people from getting medical help when they are at their most vulnerable. We aim to raise awareness of these proposals amongst the health community and mobilise students and professionals alike to challenge the increasing trend to restrict access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. We do this through letter writing, direct action, social media and petitioning. Direct action
We have organised a range of direct action work including demonstrations, and trips to Northern France and Belgium to provide first aid and support to the hundreds of refugees made homeless after the destruction of the Calais. We have attended and organised actions which raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals. Social events
We are a friendly and welcoming group of healthcare professionals and students who invite people to join and commit as little or as much time as they feel able. As a group we attend events which raise awareness of forced migration, from theatre, poetry evenings, debates and lectures. Anyone is welcome to join.
