All asylum seekers and their dependents are entitled to receive
primary care from the NHS, whether or not they receive support from the
National Asylum Support Service. Accommodation providers have a
contractual obligation to help their asylum seeking residents access
health services.
The NHS provides all asylum seekers with:
- A GP
- A dentist
- Family planning
- Social Services
Just like any UK citizen, asylum seekers have to pay for some health
services, such as eye sight tests, certain prescriptions and some
dentist treatment.
Finding a GP and dentist
If an asylum seeker has difficulty finding a GP, they can contact
their local Primary Care Trust after their third attempt, which will
arrange a GP for them. Primary Care Trusts can also help with finding
dentists.
Hospital care
All asylum seekers whose claims are being processed are entitled to
receive free hospital care. Unsuccessful asylum seekers waiting to
leave the UK do not have guaranteed hospital care unless:
- Their condition is life-threatening, in which case they will always be treated
- They can pay for the treatment themselves
Help with extra health costs
Asylum seekers who are considered destitute, and therefore receiving
government benefits, can also receive some extra health services free.
For example they can get:
- Free NHS prescriptions
- Free NHS dental treatment
- Free NHS wigs and fabric support
- Travel costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment
- Free NHS sight tests
- Full value of a NHS optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
Asylum seekers who are not destitute and who are not on government benefits cannot get these services free.
Refugees are entitled to the same social and economic rights as UK citizens. They have full access to health services.
Health Resources
