Nottingham: Council approves 5-year £684,000 contract for asylum seekers and refugees healthcare

[The_DADDY]

Not seen this anywhere else so could well be bobbins. 

 

In a move to address healthcare inequalities faced by people seeking asylum and refugees in Nottingham, the City Council has approved a £684,087 contract to fund a specialised healthcare access service over the next five years.

 

The programme, set to begin on April 1, 2025, will be funded through the ring-fenced public health grant, at an annual expenditure of £136,817.

 

New delegated decision documents state that the new service will replace the existing “Into the Mainstream” initiative, which has been operating under Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) for over 12 years. The contract, structured for a 3+2 year period, seeks to offer stability to providers and ensure continued healthcare support to some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.

Individuals seeking asylum and those granted refugee status face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services in the UK. These barriers include difficulties in registering with General Practitioners (GPs), language and literacy limitations, financial struggles, and unfamiliarity with the NHS system. Refugees and asylum seekers are known to experience higher rates of communicable diseases and mental health issues, while women often face delayed access to antenatal care, resulting in poorer health outcomes.

 

The number of asylum seekers in Nottingham has increased in recent years, with the Home Office reporting around 1,500 asylum seekers in the city by December 2023. This figure excludes several thousand recognised refugees and an unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support. These numbers have been boosted by recent arrivals from Afghanistan and Ukraine, further increasing the pressure on local services.

The decision to launch a new tendered service comes after a comprehensive review in 2023. The review assessed the support needed for asylum seekers, refugees, and those refused asylum. It included consultations with service users, stakeholders such as the Nottingham Resettlement Team, and other local partners. Surveys conducted in 2020 and August 2023, along with feedback from stakeholder events, provided a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing this population.

 

Despite exploring the potential for joint commissioning with neighbouring authorities, changes in local demographics made a collaborative approach unviable. The City Council is now focused on independently procuring a service tailored to Nottingham’s unique needs.

 

The tender process will be competitive, aiming to secure a high-quality service provider while ensuring value for money. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be developed to monitor the service’s impact, including the number of individuals supported to register with GPs, access to dental services, and the use of translation services. Regular performance reviews will ensure the service can adapt to changing needs and maintain effectiveness.

 

Your thoughts?

 

https://westbridgfordwire.com/nottingham-council-approves-5-year-684000-contract-for-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-healthcare/

[gaz 786]

1 minute ago, The_DADDY said:

Not seen this anywhere else so could well be bobbins. 

 

In a move to address healthcare inequalities faced by people seeking asylum and refugees in Nottingham, the City Council has approved a £684,087 contract to fund a specialised healthcare access service over the next five years.

 

The programme, set to begin on April 1, 2025, will be funded through the ring-fenced public health grant, at an annual expenditure of £136,817.

 

New delegated decision documents state that the new service will replace the existing “Into the Mainstream” initiative, which has been operating under Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) for over 12 years. The contract, structured for a 3+2 year period, seeks to offer stability to providers and ensure continued healthcare support to some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.

Individuals seeking asylum and those granted refugee status face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services in the UK. These barriers include difficulties in registering with General Practitioners (GPs), language and literacy limitations, financial struggles, and unfamiliarity with the NHS system. Refugees and asylum seekers are known to experience higher rates of communicable diseases and mental health issues, while women often face delayed access to antenatal care, resulting in poorer health outcomes.

 

The number of asylum seekers in Nottingham has increased in recent years, with the Home Office reporting around 1,500 asylum seekers in the city by December 2023. This figure excludes several thousand recognised refugees and an unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support. These numbers have been boosted by recent arrivals from Afghanistan and Ukraine, further increasing the pressure on local services.

The decision to launch a new tendered service comes after a comprehensive review in 2023. The review assessed the support needed for asylum seekers, refugees, and those refused asylum. It included consultations with service users, stakeholders such as the Nottingham Resettlement Team, and other local partners. Surveys conducted in 2020 and August 2023, along with feedback from stakeholder events, provided a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing this population.

 

Despite exploring the potential for joint commissioning with neighbouring authorities, changes in local demographics made a collaborative approach unviable. The City Council is now focused on independently procuring a service tailored to Nottingham’s unique needs.

 

The tender process will be competitive, aiming to secure a high-quality service provider while ensuring value for money. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be developed to monitor the service’s impact, including the number of individuals supported to register with GPs, access to dental services, and the use of translation services. Regular performance reviews will ensure the service can adapt to changing needs and maintain effectiveness.

 

Your thoughts?

 

https://westbridgfordwire.com/nottingham-council-approves-5-year-684000-contract-for-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-healthcare/

Only coz  Rotherham is full up 

 

[Prettytom]

Doesn’t seem very costly to ensure proper access to health services. It will probably pay for itself several times over by improving health outcomes for refugees who are settling here.

[hackey lad]

16 minutes ago, The_DADDY said:

Not seen this anywhere else so could well be bobbins. 

 

In a move to address healthcare inequalities faced by people seeking asylum and refugees in Nottingham, the City Council has approved a £684,087 contract to fund a specialised healthcare access service over the next five years.

 

The programme, set to begin on April 1, 2025, will be funded through the ring-fenced public health grant, at an annual expenditure of £136,817.

 

New delegated decision documents state that the new service will replace the existing “Into the Mainstream” initiative, which has been operating under Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) for over 12 years. The contract, structured for a 3+2 year period, seeks to offer stability to providers and ensure continued healthcare support to some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.

Individuals seeking asylum and those granted refugee status face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services in the UK. These barriers include difficulties in registering with General Practitioners (GPs), language and literacy limitations, financial struggles, and unfamiliarity with the NHS system. Refugees and asylum seekers are known to experience higher rates of communicable diseases and mental health issues, while women often face delayed access to antenatal care, resulting in poorer health outcomes.

 

The number of asylum seekers in Nottingham has increased in recent years, with the Home Office reporting around 1,500 asylum seekers in the city by December 2023. This figure excludes several thousand recognised refugees and an unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support. These numbers have been boosted by recent arrivals from Afghanistan and Ukraine, further increasing the pressure on local services.

The decision to launch a new tendered service comes after a comprehensive review in 2023. The review assessed the support needed for asylum seekers, refugees, and those refused asylum. It included consultations with service users, stakeholders such as the Nottingham Resettlement Team, and other local partners. Surveys conducted in 2020 and August 2023, along with feedback from stakeholder events, provided a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing this population.

 

Despite exploring the potential for joint commissioning with neighbouring authorities, changes in local demographics made a collaborative approach unviable. The City Council is now focused on independently procuring a service tailored to Nottingham’s unique needs.

 

The tender process will be competitive, aiming to secure a high-quality service provider while ensuring value for money. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be developed to monitor the service’s impact, including the number of individuals supported to register with GPs, access to dental services, and the use of translation services. Regular performance reviews will ensure the service can adapt to changing needs and maintain effectiveness.

 

Your thoughts?

 

https://westbridgfordwire.com/nottingham-council-approves-5-year-684000-contract-for-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-healthcare/

" unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support "  

[The_DADDY]

2 minutes ago, hackey lad said:

" unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support "  

Yeah. I've a feeling that might give a few people the irrits. 

[Prettytom]

9 minutes ago, hackey lad said:

" unknown number of people who have been refused asylum but still require healthcare support "  

Why is that a problem?

[cressida]

Are refugees health checked when they arrive?

[MICK BADGER]

the start date is April 1

[gaz 786]

2 hours ago, cressida said:

Are refugees health checked when they arrive?

Very good question?