Medact Gathering 2020
We are very pleased to announce our upcoming Medact Gathering will take place in Spring 2020.
Help us realise a human right to health
We need your help to build our dynamic movement of health workers and activists
Halt harmful “hostile environment” policies – open staff letter to the Board of North Bristol NHS Trust
The government is implementing new charging regulations for migrants. These deny vulnerable people healthcare, deter those eligible for care from seeking it, and establish mechanisms to roll out further charging in the future NHS.
The following is a letter to North Bristol NHS Trust asking them to also reject these policies. It is for open sign on for all staff within the trust – if you work at the trust, please add your name below.
Halt harmful “hostile environment” policies – open staff letter to the Board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust
The government is implementing new charging regulations for migrants. These deny vulnerable people healthcare, deter those eligible for care from seeking it, and establish mechanisms to roll out further charging in the future NHS.
The following is a letter to University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust asking them to also reject these policies. It is for open sign on for all staff within the trust – if you work at the trust, please add your name below.
Ensuring Universal Healthcare in the NHS: Advocacy tools in the context of migrant charging
Join Medact, Docs Not Cops, and Health Professionals for Global Health to find out about the impact of NHS charging regulations on migrants and the role healthcare workers have in improving access to care for all. This event will launch the Patient’s not Passports Toolkit and showcase a variety of speakers who will discuss how the policy may directly contravene the principles of universal healthcare.
A statement from Royal Liverpool healthcare workers on healthcare charges
“As a doctor I find it appalling that my employer could encourage me to provide substandard care for a patient because of their nationality. Recently I saw ‘cost recovery staff’ document in a very sick young female’s notes that staff should “refrain from providing non-urgent treatment because she is chargeable for her care and has not yet paid a deposit”. Patients will suffer. Either through direct clinical neglect, or (more likely) through delayed presentation to health services due to fear of financial ruin or being reported to authorities.”
A letter from St George’s healthcare workers to the Trust Board
“The overseas team have come onto my ward to deliver invoices to a patient’s bedside. I was shocked that they would approach a patient at their most vulnerable. I’ve also heard about pregnant women having their care delayed or booking at the last minute. I dread to think what kind of impact this will be having.”
Health For All? Meeting Re: NHS Charging Policies
Are you a health worker at St George’s or in Wandsworth concerned about how regulations such as upfront charging, data sharing for immigration enforcement and ID checks impact on patient care and clinical practice? Join us to discuss the policies, their impact and how...Twitter Storm Guide
How to take part in our twitter storm. 1. Get online between 12noon and 2pm on 23rd October. 2. Make a sign that says “I’m a patient not a passport” or any other message you want to send to Barts Trust to encourage them to end ID checks and charging. Check out these...Returning Ebola Medals to the Government In Protest at the Hostile Environment
On Tuesday 24 July, Medact supported healthcare workers and humanitarians to return their government honours in protest at the ‘hostile environment’ policies in the NHS.
Over 150 Health Professionals Call For Scrapping Of Charges & ID Checks in NHS
In a letter published in The Evening Standard, over 150 healthcare professionals call for the scrapping of healthcare charges and ID checks for migrants in the NHS.
First we closed our doors to patients – and now doctors too?
Despite a staff shortfall, the government has blocked visas for 400 doctors recruited by the NHS. Is government prioritising its commitment to immigration controls over patient well-being and public health?