Update: From 21 July 2022, children aged 5 to 11 in England and the Isle of Man can get a digital NHS Covid Pass for international travel. Parents and guardians can request one from the NHS.UK website for young people from 5 – 15.
Covid-19 and the Government’s handling of the crisis have further weakened an already-broken immigration & asylum system
The immigration system, including Hostile Environment policies, have exacerbated the impact of Covid-19 on migrants and undermined public health efforts
Migrant communities, particularly those with insecure immigration status, have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19
Changes brought in by the Home Secretary during the pandemic mark the start of a wider set of sweeping changes to the immigration & asylum system
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have developed the Leeds Long Covid Community Rehabilitation Service to help people in Leeds who are experiencing new, long lasting problems 12 weeks or more after a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection.
Due to ongoing changes, we are currently reviewing our Hub content, structure, and updates. If you have any feedback on what is or is not useful, or what could be, please let us know.
The government has removed concessions for people working in healthcare whose visa expires between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 and for pre-registration nurses and midwifes on the Temporary Register in the UK.
A new review by UK Health Security Agency shows that people who have had one or more doses of a Covid-19 vaccine are less likely to develop Long Covid than those who remain unvaccinated.
Due to ongoing changes, we are currently reviewing our Hub content, structure, and updates. If you have any feedback on what is or is not useful, or what could be, please let us know.
The UK Health Security Agency have updated their immunisation guidance for migrants ensuring that people entering the UK can access routine vaccinations.
Migration Yorkshire is working in partnership with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) on a joint research project that aims to understand how migrants and longstanding communities experience social connections and/or social isolation in their communities.
We are seeking participation from people working with communities in Scarborough, Kirklees, York and Barnsley but encourage involvement from stakeholders across Yorkshire and Humber.
UK.Gov have updated their guide to booster vaccinations for people aged 18 years and over, as well as people aged 16 years and over who are at more risk from Covid-19.
The ‘If you’re in the UK’ section has been amended, updating the exceptional assurance visa or leave expiry date to 31 March 2022.
The section ‘If you are in the UK but your Entry Clearance was not activated due to COVID-19 restrictions’ has been removed as the concession is no longer available.
Doctors of the World have collated resources to help organisations supporting migrants navigate the latest announcement with regards to the Covid Pass and the booster jab.
The deadline to provide specified documents has been extended to 31 March 2022.
The temporary concession for coronavirus (COVID-19) related research has ended.
People in receipt of an endorsement from a Global Talent endorsing body who have not been able to apply for a visa within the 3-month deadline due to Covid-19 related reasons, may still be eligible.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants are launching a report based on interviews with undocumented migrants, exploring some of the systemic issues they have faced as a result of the UK’s Hostile Environment policies.
The Migrant Aspiration Programme (MAP) is a free 4 month online training course created for anyone who has lived experience of migration and the hostile environment. MAP is for people who are looking to lead and make a difference in their community. Training will run from April – July and the application deadline is the beginning of February.
to reflect changes to self-isolation requirements for contacts of people who have been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus (COVID-19)
in line with Plan B rule changes on the use of face coverings in indoor settings and changes to advice on self-isolation for contacts, encouraging daily LFD tests.
Also available embedded in the blogpost in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi Gurmukhi, Punjabi Shamakhi, Romanian, Slovak, Somali, Turkish, Urdu and Welsh.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust are looking for help in identifying great approaches or services that are supporting good health or good health care for refugees or people seeking asylum around the world.
Yorkshire, Humber and the North East Health Stream of Sanctuary Online Event on 24th November 2021
The Yorkshire, Humber and the North East Health Stream of Sanctuary invites you to participate in an online day of events on Wednesday 24th November 2021.
Specialised services have developed to meet the needs of sanctuary seekers, for example, Primary Care Practices specifically set up for asylum seekers. This stream aims to support City of Sanctuary Groups and Health Practitioners to develop and share good practice in inclusive health care for sanctuary seekers. Round table event chaired by City of Sanctuary UK Trustee Jeff Morgan.
Mental health and well-being are big issues for many people seeking sanctuary, made worse by the many impacts of the hostile environment. In this session we will look at some of the problems people face in getting help for mental distress and trauma and explore ideas for making things better.
Refugee Council have produced maternity guides for women on asylum support It explains the healthcare services and financial support available during pregnancy and after birth.5 November 2021
Refugee Council’s policy note on health barriers outlines the main issues their clients are experiencing when they access health services, including issues arising in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. 5 November 2021
A webinar covering access to housing, support and primary care for Afghan women who are pregnant or new mothers will be held on 16th November 10:30-12:00.
Roma Support Group conducted a questionnaire between February and April 2021 to assess how the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the daily lives of their clients, and whether they were able to access support when needed.
Their report includes good practice recommendations on public health engagement and adapting existing support to changing community needs.
1. Call for migrant participants in “Routes: new ways to talk about Covid for better health” research atTheLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
“We would like to talk to migrant workers to understand their experiences of COVID and the pandemic response, because they are not always well served by healthcare services. We are particularly interested in talking to migrant workers in precarious jobs (e.g. zero hours contracts, informal economy).
Please circulate information about our project among your networks to see if there might be migrant workers interested in either being interviewed for about an hour or participating in a group discussion. We will pay £40 per interview, or £40 for participation in a group discussion, as cash or a voucher. If anyone from organisations supporting migrant workers would like to participate as a key informant, please let us know and we can discuss how that might work too. We do have some funds to support organisational involvement.
We know it’s important to work directly with communities to understand what type of research needs to be done, and that’s why we want to speak to community members and community organisations at every stage. We are funded by DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) but we are independent and are not part of health services.
You can contact us at depth@lshtm.ac.uk if you would like more information”
A workshop from the Health Creation Alliance taking place on Thursday 4th, Tuesday 16th and Tuesday 30th November, 14:00-15:30, aimed at NHS staff and those working in partnership with them.
This Zoom training aims to draw on the learning from COVID-19 and vaccines to improve understanding of how the NHS can work with local communities to address health inequalities among marginalised communities, particularly asylum seekers, refugees and homeless people.
The Department of Health and Social Care and Office for National Statistics have prepared a paper on the direct and indirect health impacts of Covid-19 between March 2020 and Spring 2021.
A short version of the paper (18 pages) was published on 9th September 2021.
It provides analysis of current evidence and understanding of the COVID-19 transmission risks associated with hotels and MQFs, to understand whether there are risk factors specific to hotels.
A review of migrant health research has been published, outlining trends in research in the last couple of decades and setting out recommendations for the future research agenda.
Leeds City Council’s Communications department are currently setting up a Winter Response group, which will co-ordinate communications on Covid-19 and various other interlinked issues around Winter and health.
To ensure the Communities toolkit remains relevant, they would like volunteers to complete this 5-minute survey to highlight your needs and indicate how you’re using/have used the toolkit:
The latest iteration of the toolkit includes:
Two new government items (Vaccines Toolkit by the Cabinet Office and Back to Schools/Colleges guidance by the Dept of Education)
Links to social media artwork displaying vaccination locations for 16-17 year olds
Gov.UK have updated their guidance on how everyone can help stop the spread of coronavirus in line with the latest Step 4 guidance and the government’s plan for Autumn/Winter 2021.
The University of Birmingham has published a report into Doctors Of The World’s casework, proving significant unmet healthcare needs and an evident digital divide in migrant patients during the first wave of the pandemic.
Key findings from the report
The average number of consultations per month dropped drastically from approximately 170 before the pandemic to 50 during the pandemic
Service users were much more likely to find themselves in inadequate housing
Significant barriers to GP registration remained
Percentage of undocumented service users decreased, while the percentage of asylum seekers increased.
There was a significant increase in service users reporting ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ health
Gov.UK have produced an easy read guide for children and young people (aged 12-15) with learning disabilities, explaining what they can expect when they receive their Covid-19 vaccination. Additionally, a Coronavirus vaccine consent form for young people is available.
Following the news that people aged 50 years and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk are being offered a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine this autumn, the UK government have published a guide to booster vaccinations.
The Royal College of Midwives has produced ‘Caring for vulnerable migrant women’ which is a pocket guide for midwives and maternity support workers, covering a range of topics.
The UK government has published guidance on financial support for people who cannot afford the managed quarantine and testing fees associated with ‘essential travel’ to the UK during the pandemic.
The UK government has updated its migrant health advice and guidance on prevalence of communicable diseases and other health topics from different countries.
To support the Health Foundation’s COVID-19 impact inquiry, Good Things Foundation, the Health Foundation and the King’s Fund joined to convene a diverse group of people with a shared interest in tackling digital exclusion and health inequalities. The workshop was also an opportunity to make and strengthen connections, and share experience on promising approaches, opportunities and how to achieve sustained and inclusive change. Their paper gives an overview of digital exclusion and its relationship to health, social and economic aspects of people’s lives; who is affected; how the pandemic has impacted on this; and what responses we have seen.
Report on migration and vulnerability during the pandemic
A new report on migration and vulnerability during the pandemic was produced as part of the University of Birmingham Vulnerable Migrants’ Wellbeing Project led by Professor Jenny Phillimore (and funded by the Nuffield Foundation and ESRC IAA). The report, which shows significant unmet healthcare needs and deep digital divide in migrant patients during first wave of the pandemic, draws on Doctors of the World’s anonymised service users’ data at the height of the first wave of the pandemic. Amongst the key findings of the report:
The average number of consultations per month dropped drastically from approximately 170 before the pandemic to 50 during the pandemic
Service Users were much more likely to find themselves in inadequate housing
Significant barriers to GP registration remained
Percentage of undocumented service users decreased, while the percentage of asylum seekers increased.
There was a significant increase in service users reporting ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ health.
Migration Yorkshire has launched the Migration news roundup for anyone interested in migration but without lots of time to search for news.
The roundup is a new, weekly service drawing together news items on migration, covering policy, immigration law, individual stories, research and statistics, mainly relating to the UK but also with a snapshot of overseas stories.
Doctors of the World have kindly shared their Vaccine Confidence Toolkit, a resource aimed at assisting community leaders in encouraging people to take up the vaccine.
The toolkit includes Vaccine Confidence slides and speaker notes and will soon be available in 5 community languages.
These animated resources address recommendations arising from a stakeholder engagement exercise to improve the Migrant Health Guide NHS entitlements page, done in 2019, which asked for more clarity about NHS entitlements and to adopt a more culturally sensitive approach. These outputs will also complement a suite of PHE and NHSE/I COVID-19 vaccination resources (for the general public) being made available to mitigate vaccination inequalities.
The animations aim to dispel fears of being charged for free NHS services, supports PHE’s role in reducing health inequalities by clarifying entitlements to healthcare and upholds the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Doctors of the World social prescribing resources to support migrants
New DOTW guidance on how social prescribing workers can support migrants.
COVID-19 translated advice and guidance is available on the PHE Migrant Health Guide here
PHE COVID-19 guidance collection page for the general public includes translated versions here
The updated guidance for accommodation providers of asylum seeker accommodation was published on Fri 23rd July here. The guidance is aimed at all staff involved in providing support to asylum seekers in all accommodation settings.
A Braille version of the leaflet is also available to order.
A set of 4 posters and social media cards encouraging vaccine uptake among pregnant women are available for download only – by logging into this NHS England website.
Public Health England have issued translations of their comprehensive stay at home guidance for anyone with symptoms of coronavirus. This also applies to anyone who is asymptomatic but is waiting for results of a PCR test.
The Department for Education have published a policy paper on the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), a scheme started in 2020 to provide support for pupils and students most affected by disruption to their education as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Further information about the programme can be found on the NTP website.
The aim of the training is to educate and raise awareness of the ongoing racial injustice and everyday discrimination faced by colleagues from ethnic minorities across our diverse communities.
The voices and experiences of the Race Equality Network members from ethnic minorities have shaped the purpose and content of the training.
Solace have a vacancy for a Children and Families therapist (closing date Monday 23rd August) and are looking for trustees with lived experience of the asylum process or being a refugee. Please share with your networks.
As restrictions have been eased following the move to Step 4 of the roadmap, the UK government are advising clinically extremely vulnerable people, as a minimum, to follow the same guidance as everyone else.
Following the progression to Step 4 of the roadmap, this guidance is for everyone in England who has been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19).
This guidance has been updated to reflect Step 4 roadmap changes. Translations and easy read guidance have temporarily been removed while being updated.
The UK government has issued public health information to protect the public and stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). This includes public health advice and coronavirus-related duties for entering and staying within England.
Gov.UK have created an overview of NHS Test and Trace, including what happens if you test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive.
The UK government have issued guidance on how to get the NHS COVID Pass and demonstrate your coronavirus (COVID-19) status when travelling abroad and domestically at events and venues in England.
The Home Office has confirmed that as of 19th July 2021 negative cessations will resume meaning that anyone who has had a negative decision on their asylum claim can now have their support discontinued. All recipients on support whether on section 4 or section 95 support will receive 21 days notice of their support ending.
The #HandsUpForOurHealth coalition, which includes Doctors of the World is campaigning on this issue. As part of this they highlight the Safe Surgeries initiative – a network GP practices can join.
Racial Justice Network, with the support of Queen Mary University of London and University of Huddersfield, have produced this report; “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” following interviews with community advocates living in Yorkshire and Humber during Covid 19.
The report is available in various formats including short-form and video.
The Leeds Health Partnerships team have produced this video featuring representatives from across a wide range of Leeds communities who have had their Covid vaccine.
Languages featured include English, Arabic, Bengali, BSL, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Czech, Irish, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese and Urdu.
The briefing identifies three key groups of EU citizens for which NHS healthcare entitlement will differ:
EU citizens who came to the UK before 31/12/20 with status under the EUSS
EU citizens who came to the UK before 31/12/20 without status under the EUSS
EU citizens who came to the UK after 31/12/20
In the briefing, Doctors of the World have also published results of an online survey taken by both EU citizens and supporting organisations:
• 18% of the participants mentioned encountering issues when applying to the EU Settlement Scheme with a large majority mentioning issues with documentation and the website as the key reasons behind their difficulties
• 5% mentioned being asked to prove their immigration status when registering with a GP
• Amongst those asked to prove their immigration status when accessing hospital care, 22% were then unable to receive treatment due to issues in verifying their status
The Leeds Public Health Resource Centre (PHRC) supports anyone with a responsibility for or interest in improving health and wellbeing in Leeds, including students and volunteers.
The PHRC would like to hear your views on their current services, even if you have never used them before. Your feedback will also help shape their services in the future.
Click this link to take the survey and please feel free to share it with other people you know who are interested in improving health and wellbeing in Leeds.
Following the high profile incident in football earlier this week, St John’s Ambulance service, Joe Humphries Memorial Trust and the Resuscitation Council UK have developed an online training course for treating sudden cardiac arrest, funded by Sport England.
This accessible 30 – 45 minute course is designed for anyone involved in sport or physical activity from players to coaches to spectators.
Participants will have access to the online materials for 12 months after enrolling, in order to keep their SCA first aid skills updated.
Ask Doc have added translated videos in Cantonese, Gujarati and Farsi, suggesting that people shouldn’t use lateral flow tests if they have covid symptoms, and explaining what people should do instead.
Student sponsors should also read the student sponsor guidance which sets out the requirements for education providers wishing to apply for a licence to sponsor international students to come to the UK under the student and child student routes.
The purpose of the workshop is to share the findings of the UK SEREDA project, undertaken to understand the nature and incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) experienced by forced migrants residing in the UK, and to work collectively to develop recommendations to help improve the lives of SGBV survivors, build their resilience and reduce vulnerability.
The online workshop will take place on 23 June from 13.00 to 14.30 using the virtual platform Microsoft Teams.
Covid-19 Infographics have published translated versions of an infographic announcing the UK government’s delay to the easing of restrictions, with the date now set for 19th July.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released statistics on vaccine hesitancy reported as part of the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey carried out between 26th May and 20th June 2021.
More than 9 in 10 (96%) adults reported positive sentiment towards a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, while 4% reported vaccine hesitancy.
The same rates of vaccine hesitancy were reported by women and men (both 4%).
Black or Black British adults had the highest rates of vaccine hesitancy (18%) compared with White adults (4%).
Vaccine hesitancy was higher for adults identifying Muslim (15%) or Other (11%) as their religion, compared with adults who identify as Christian (3%); however, there was no statistically significant difference when compared with any of the remaining religious groups.
Adults living in the most deprived areas of England (based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation) were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy (8%) than adults living in the least deprived areas (3%).
It will include focus sessions on multi-tiered and comprehensive MHPSS Systems & Psychological First Aid, working with refugees to improve mental health, and best practice examples of specialist clinical interventions.
LOHST is a social work practitioner and welfare/support worker survey aiming to understand the specific ways Covid-19 has affected unaccompanied minors and young people’s asylum experience in Britain.
This survey is part of a study, led by the University of Liverpool in collaboration with University College London, Southampton University and the Albanian Support Charity, Shpresa.
It should only take 20 minutes maximum, and there is a chance to win £500 for your organisation. To complete the survey, click on this link.
3.Supporting separated migrant children to thrive during COVID-19
Coram BAAF are taking part in an ESRC funded study ‘Supporting separated migrant children to thrive during COVID-19’. This study is being carried out by the University of Stirling and supported by external partners including the Scottish Guardianship Service (SGS), the Hands Up Project and Terre des Hommes.
Coram are keen to link in with colleagues across the UK who are working with separated migrant children. If you would like to be involved in this study (focus groups will be held in September 2021) please email Dan Murdoch (Daniel.Murdoch@corambaaf.org.uk).
Leeds NHS and South Asian Arts-uk have produceda light-hearted, co-produced video encouraging people to have the COVID-19 vaccine – and to spread the word in their community to encourage others to do the same.
Ask Doc have created translated videos suggesting that people shouldn’t use lateral flow tests if they have covid symptoms, and explaining what people should do instead.
Kirklees Council have produced videos, recorded at the Hudawi Community Centre, one of Kirklees community testing sites, explaining how to carry out a lateral flow test.
The videos include audio in English and a translation in text in the following languages:
#KirkleesWelcomes Community Connectors who have had the vaccine are developing their own messages to share with migrant communities to encourage others to take up the offer of the vaccine.
‘This article reports age-standardised rates of death involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) by religious group and uses statistical models to adjust for location, measures of disadvantage, occupation, living arrangements, and pre-existing health conditions. It compares the risk of COVID-19 mortality in two discrete periods aligned to each wave of the pandemic.’
The Refugee Council’s England-wide Infoline service will extend, at this stage, until 31st July, please see below for updated service information.
Service updates
Live service Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10.30-1pm and 2pm-4.30pm. To contact the Infoline and speak to the team, call free phone 0808 196 7272
The Infoline has a small casework service. The priority is for those who are unable to access alternative local support, and where a short-term intervention around housing, financial support, accessing health care or accessing legal advice is likely to avoid or resolve crisis. Referrals are through the Infoline.
If you would like to contact the team for any reason, including with additional service information, to refer with consent, or relating to enquiries, the team email address is infoline@refugeecouncil.org.uk.
Infoline directory of services
If your service delivery has recently changed or you want to be added to our signposting directory, please complete this short form to update us with your service information, to make sure that we hold and give out the information you wish us to, including around service capacity.
UK.Gov have produced ‘Guidance on ethical considerations for local authorities and adult social care professionals planning their response to COVID-19.’
#KirkleesWelcomes Community Connectors who have had the COVID-19 vaccine are developing their own messages to share with migrant communities to encourage others to take up the offer of the vaccine.
Designed for frontline professionals and community groups who may encounter potential victims of modern slavery or those at risk of exploitation, this pocketbook explains what Modern Slavery is and the differences between human trafficking and smuggling.
If your organisation is helping vulnerable EU citizens complete their EUSS application, the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom can offer further legal advice, free of charge. The EU Delegation can offer a lawyer to attend a digital advice surgery with the aim of providing one-to-one legal support to at least 10 vulnerable citizens per surgery.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are also offering a wide range of information and guidance around COVID-19, pregnancy and fertility, including specific advice for people from minoritised ethnicities.
The South Asian Health Foundation have recorded guidance and information that people in the UK can share with loved ones abroad, and use to approach political representatives for support. They’ve also launched a call to action – view the 10 point plan.
kirkleeswelcomes 
