Thread by @DOTW_UK

Following #UHCDay, we are talking this week about #HealthForAll and what DOTW does to work towards a truly universal health service.

Did you know that DOTW offers specialist support for women, children, and families through a weekly dedicated service?

We do this because refugee and migrant women face a higher risk of domestic and sexual violence throughout their lives, and this has a detrimental impact on their health #HealthForAll
birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/coll…

More than 90% of the women DOTW supports have no access to healthcare due to a range of factors including the impact of poverty, the hostile environment and fear of accessing services, homelessness, chaotic living situations, and language barriers #HealthForAll

Migrant women have disproportionately poor pregnancy outcomes compared to the wider UK population, with black women four times as likely to die in childbirth as white women #HealthForAll

The majority of pregnant women we see are late to access antenatal care and are isolated. They are faced with huge NHS bills as soon as they have delivered their baby.

At a time when they may be emotionally and physical vulnerable, this is even more horrific #HealthForAll

The women we see in our clinic have no means to pay such huge bills and are forced into extreme financial instability and puts them at risk of exploitation #HealthForAll

Our ground-breaking research evidences the impact that the laws on NHS charging have on our patients #HealthForAll

doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/news/press-rel…

We provide women and families with clinical appointments and casework support to access antenatal care, terminations of pregnancy, GP registration, social services support and foodbank vouchers #HealthForAll

We also provide free prescriptions, point of care HIV testing and STI screening and refer to local community groups. In 2020 and 2021 the project has supported over 800 women, at least 10% of whom have been pregnant. #HealthForAll

You can support the women, children, and families clinic this Christmas by donating to our Christmas Appeal. This will ensure that we can keep these vital services running throughout 2022
donate.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/page/95327/don…