COVID-19 has shone a light on why a truly universal NHS is vital. We cannot have members of our community too scared or unable to access the healthcare that could prevent serious harm and save their lives #HealthForAll COVID-19 does not discriminate. Yet nearly two years on since the beginning of the pandemic, too many people are still being excluded from NHS services.

A health system that leaves the most vulnerable groups at risk is a health system in crisis.
#HealthForAll

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…

Following #UHCDay and as part of our week looking at Universal Health Coverage, what it means, and how we work towards it, today we are sharing work we have done to improve access to information on COVID-19 and the vaccine #HealthForAll Since the beginning of the pandemic, DOTW has worked to improve access to COVID services, including the vaccines for people who have historically being excluded from mainstream healthcare services #HealthForAll

Breaking news: Doctors of the World UK is today intervening in an important case at the High Court, on denying healthcare to people living in the UK without immigration status. Our Head of Policy and Advocacy, Anna Miller, and Head of Services, Amardeep Kamboz are at the High Court. DOTW are represented by @BhattMurphy @DoughtyStPublic and @Landmark_LC.

TWITTER TAKEOVER!

Hi, I’m @NikkiKF, a GP & NHS England’s Director of Primary Care. 👋

I can't wait to take you on my virtual @LondonMarathon! Over the next 3 days, I'll be sharing regular updates as I walk 60 miles from London to Newbury.

Keep reading to see my route! 🗺 #VLM My destination: Greenham Common, where my dad spent 6mths in a refugee camp in 1972.

I'm doing this walk for @DOTW_UK, a medical charity that helps refugees & other excluded groups to access healthcare.

Together, we can raise funds & awareness for this great cause!#The40thRace

This is the desperate situation facing refugee families trapped on Lesvos. 👇

The govt has provided temp housing to some of the over 12k people displaced by fires at #MoriaCamp.

But at least 5k people remain stranded on the street without proper shelter & winter is coming. There are many vulnerable people on the island – pregnant women, positive or suspected #COVID19 cases, people with chronic health conditions, & people who’ve experienced trauma.

Ensuring those in immediate need of assistance get medical care is a priority for our team on Lesvos.

THREAD: It's the 3rd & final day for sharing our new wellbeing guidance in different languages! Check out today's 👇

It's important that everyone knows how to take care of their mental health during #COVID19. 🧠

RT to help us overcome language barriers: doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/wellbeing-guid… Feeling worried or stressed while away from your family and friends is normal in these difficult times.

It’s really important that we take care of our health and wellbeing as much as possible.

Feeling worried or stressed while away from your family and friends is normal in these difficult times.

It’s really important that we take care of our health and wellbeing as much as possible. Supported by @MayorofLondon and in collaboration with @ThriveLDN, we put together six practical steps to help you cope:
doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/wellbeing-guid…

Remember, it is OK not to feel OK, and you are not alone, we are here to help.

THREAD: Over the next 3 days, we'll be sharing our new wellbeing guidance in different languages, starting with English + these languages 👇

Please RT to ensure language is no barrier to maintaining a healthy mind & body. Download the guidance for free at doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/wellbeing-guid… Feeling worried or stressed while away from your family and friends is normal in these difficult times.

It’s really important that we take care of our health and wellbeing as much as possible.

Today is World Humanitarian Day.

It's an opportunity to honour those who face danger & adversity in order to help others.

Thread 👇 #RealLifeHeroes #WorldHumanitarianDay2020 Wafaa, our head of mission in #Yemen, is one of the #RealLifeHeroes to whom we wish to pay tribute.

A Yemeni citizen, she bears witness to the deteriorating humanitarian, health & economic situation of her country & helps her fellow citizens every day.

Julie is an undocumented migrant who was running dangerously low on diabetes medication when she called our advice line in desperation.

She wasn't registered with a GP & had been relying on friends travelling between the UK & her home country to help her manage her condition... ...Then #COVID19 interrupted her supply.

Our team reassured Julie she was entitled to a GP & helped her register with her closest practice.

They also organised a call with 1 of our volunteer GPs who gave her a week's prescription to ensure she didn't run out of medication.

100% teleconsultations would be devastating for many people living in vulnerable circumstances.

@MattHancock demonstrates his limited understanding of what digital exclusion looks like today (spoiler alert: it's not just older people who can't log on).

theguardian.com/society/2020/j… Our #COVID19 rapid needs assessment showed poverty-driven digital exclusion stopped people from getting COVID-19 information, calling NHS111 & seeing a GP.

That’s (often young) tech-savvy people who couldn’t afford phone credit or data to call a GP or book online appointments.

This is great news! @pritipatel has committed to a full review of the UK's #HostileEnvironment.

This policy is dangerous because it stops people accessing healthcare when they need it.

We look forward to a new approach that's "rooted in humanity". 1/4

theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/j… AND the govt. has pledged another £85m for housing rough sleepers during #Covid19UK.

This follows calls from councils & charities, incl. @DOTW_UK, for ongoing support for people experiencing homelessness, who would otherwise struggle to stay safe. 2/4

theguardian.com/society/2020/j…

On #WindrushDay, we call on the @ukhomeoffice to immediately suspend #HostileEnvironment policies that prevent migrants in vulnerable circumstances from accessing public services - and to implement the recommendations of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. 1/4 Our report #AnUnsafeDistance found that migrants continue to avoid hospitals for fear of overseas visitor charging & NHS data sharing.

This is despite #COVID19 testing & treatment being made exempt. 2/4

Remember. Reflect. Unite. 💚

Three years since the #GrenfellTower tragedy, victims still don’t have answers with a gov inquiry on hold due to #COVID19.

Meanwhile, thousands of people still live in unsafe homes & their mental health is suffering. In the wake of the fire, our GP volunteers helped Grenfell survivors get back on their feet.

They found undocumented migrants & asylum seekers living at Grenfell were too scared to seek help for fear of being reported to the @ukhomeoffice 🤐

Do you have questions about #COVID19's impact on refugees & how you can help?

During #RefugeeWeek2020, we will host a Q&A with the 3 public health doctors who co-wrote our report #AnUnsafeDistance.

Reply below with your questions & they will respond on Jun 18 @ 1pm BST 👇 Find out more about the report: doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/news/covid19-r…

Thank you @ameliagentleman for drawing attention to @JCWI_UK & @DOTW_UK's calls to #scrapNRPF.

Job losses due to COVID-19 have significantly impacted migrants with no access to benefits & they are now struggling to feed their families & pay rent in this #HostileEnvironment.

https://twitter.com/ameliagentleman/status/1269689350310289408

Since the start of #COVID19, we've seen a huge increase in calls to our advice line from people facing destitution.

Our Rapid Needs Assessment confirms that excluded people, but particularly those with NRPF, are experiencing new destitution & homelessness.

But there's hope...

1/5 🚨 Rapid Needs Assessment 🚨

ICYMI: Doctors of the World UK has released the findings of its RNA, which looks at #Covid_19's impact on excluded groups in England.

Researchers spoke to people with lived experience & what they found was concerning... 2/5 “How is it possible to self-isolate in a shared house with 3 mums & 6 children where you share a toilet & bathroom? And if we have to self-isolate there is no way of us getting food... The money we have is hardly enough to eat for the whole week." - Newly recognised refugee

“The UK has 10 indigenous languages incl sign languages, and many more spoken in communities. From a public health view, it is pointless producing info in just one language when 1/3rd speak another and many as a first language”

@DoctorChrisVT talked to BBC about our work 🙏🏼💙 We’ve now translated the #NHS Guidelines into 49 languages to help address the broader needs of the population. 10 videos are available and other formats are on their way

[1/9] TODAY frontline organisations and lawyers gave evidence to @CommonsHomeAffs on impact of #Covid-19 on immigration, asylum and detention systems.

@JanetDaby asked if refugees and migrants were being included in the UK govt’s response to Covid-19 as recommended by @WHO. [2/9] @JCWI_UK reported cases where migrant patients are not going forward to the NHS to get Covid-19 care because:

1⃣ the hostile environment created a generalised culture of scaring people from accessing #NHS services even when they are entitled to NHS care.

Today, with the @TheBMA and royal medical colleges, we asked the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Health to suspend the #NHS Charging Regulations.

The regulations are dangerous, and undermine efforts to stop the spread of #covid-19 because:
1/5 During a pandemic it is critical that everyone is included in nationwide public health measures and can access health services.
This includes refugees and migrants
2/5
bit.ly/3aS6PwO