Asylum seekers have experienced ‘unsafe gaps’ in healthcare during the pandemic, Healthwatch Reading will tell councillors later this month.
Healthwatch Reading will tell an upcoming Reading Borough Council (RBC) public meeting that asylum seekers have experienced unsafe gaps in healthcare during the pandemic.
Asylum seekers at a Reading hotel have been striking over poor quality food provided for their meals, and asylum claim delays.
READ MORE: Asylum seekers at Reading hotel strike over ‘horrible’ food and hotel conditions
The charity will present a report based on interviews it has carried out with people placed by the Home Office in a Reading hotel during the pandemic.
An example of food Reading Red Kitchen says Clearspring has been providing
The report will be discussed at Reading’s Health and Wellbeing Board on Friday, March 19, which will be a virtual meeting.
Healthwatch Reading says it aimed to find out people’s experiences and check whether their rights were being upheld and also offered practical support to help people register with doctors, get urgent prescriptions or treatment and to raise welfare concerns.
READ MORE: Organiser of market that was shut down says he could be facing £10k fine
The charity also requested formal responses from local organisations about how they have supported the asylum seekers, which will be made public.
Healthwatch Reading is an independent champion for people living in Reading who use health and social care services. It aims to make sure those who are running services put people at the heart of care.
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