Our London clinic
Doctors of the World’s London clinic does more than just deliver healthcare. We advocate and campaign on behalf of our patients. We endeavour to make sure that they have access to mainstream services. For these reasons, we train healthcare providers and community leaders to advocate for migrants and refugees and focus on non-discriminatory practices. We do not put forward our service as an alternative to the NHS, but rather we highlight the barriers to and inconsistencies between existing services.
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© Spike Johnson
In 2011 and 2012 we introduced a close follow-up scheme for the most vulnerable clients. Frequently, even those who succeed in registering with a GP struggle to receive the specialised support they need. Mental health problems are often triggered by high levels of trauma caused by torture, rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence or assault. Our volunteers try to address service users’ fears and provide moral support until they can access appropriate mental health services. They listen with empathy to build a relationship of trust with the service user.
Rebecca: “I noticed my stomach was getting hard and stiff. I had serious pains. I tried to register with a GP but they wanted my passport, driving licence and all these other documents I couldn’t give them. I didn’t want anybody reporting me to the authorities so I kept it to myself. I felt like I was waiting for a time bomb to explode. “Someone at my church told me about Doctors of the World’s clinic. A doctor saw me there and, given the gravity of the case, he sent me to the hospital with a letter. Despite having very high blood pressure, the GP at A&E sent me home, because I was not able to pay. I ended up self-medicating on painkillers from the supermarket. I eventually called Doctors of the World again and they referred me to a different hospital where I was diagnosed with a blood clot. If it wasn’t for Doctors of the World I would not be able to stand here now. Good health is more important than money or food. Health comes before everything.” Names have been changed to protect identity. All gave consent for use of their case studies. 2