Campaign against charging vulnerable migrants for GP appointments

The Government is completing a review which is expected to introduce charges for GP appointments for individuals not considered lawfully resident in the country. This group includes rejected asylum seekers, trafficked women and undocumented migrants.

Charging is likely to prevent or delay access to maternity care, putting the health of mother and baby at risk.

Medact is asking individuals and organisations to sign up to a statement opposing these changes, and has prepared a briefing paper which provides some useful background.

NCT fully supports this campaign supporting access to quality services for all pregnant women.

Please take a moment to sign the Medact peitition calling on the government to ensure that everybody resident in the UK has access to immediate and necessary healthcare including maternity care. You can get more information on the campaign and sign the petition at http://www.medact.org/article_refugee.php?articleID=688

You can also write to your MP and ask them to register their opposition to restrictions on vulnerable migrants' access to vital health services by signing EDM 220. More information about the EDM and how to contact your MP can be found at http://www.medact.org/article_refugee.php?articleID=720