Bridging the Gap
This is a case study of one of our HMC clients:
Mohammed’s problems started 10 years ago when in his home country he was shot in the left heel.
During his journey to the UK his wound became badly infected, and as an NHS report later concluded: “his only viable treatment is amputation.”
Mohammed’s GP refused to assist him as he believed that Mohammed was not entitled to healthcare services as a failed asylum seeker. “I was refused an operation because of my immigration status and the GP wouldn’t even talk to me” explained Mohammed.
The HMC team helped to get Mohammed registered with another GP, and then in partnership with Refugee Action consulted with practitioners to raise awareness of a new high court ruling in April 2008 which specified that all ‘failed asylum seekers, until their removal from the UK, should be considered by law to be ordinary residents and entitled to NHS care.’
A HMC team outreach worker escorted Mohammed to the hospital in January this year, where he had his leg amputated. The operation was successful and Mohammed was discharge two weeks later. The HMC team arranged for transport when he had to attend hospital for his first post operative review.
Mohammed feels that without the extra help from the HMC team, he would probably still be suffering with his leg. “Without the knowledge of legislation and systems here in the UK I felt alone and helpless.”
