Agenda item

The report of Leeds Migrant Health Board outlines that this is the second Annual Report of the Leeds Migrant Health Board (LMHB). The report describes work by the Board and its members to address the health needs of migrants in 2023-24 and presents recommendations for future work by partners and the wider health and care system.

The report of Leeds Migrant Health Board outlined that this was the second Annual Report of the Leeds Migrant Health Board (LMHB). The report described work by the Board and its members to address the health needs of migrants in 2023 -24 and presented recommendations for future work by partners and the wider health and care system.

The following attended the meeting to present the item:

• Pippa Bird - Chief Officer/Consultant in Public Health, Adults and Health
• Catherine Ward - Health Improvement Principal, Adults & Health
• Helen Binns - Families First Project Manager, Children & Families

The Board was provided with the following information:

·  Leeds was culturally diverse, with data displaying that 27% of the population was of an ethnic minority background in 2024, which had rose from 19% in 2019. English was not the first language for approximately 70,000 people.

·  Leeds was considered a city of sanctuary where refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable people were welcome.

·  Work conducted by LMHB had informed and altered the strategic direction of the health and care system to improve understanding and outcomes for migrants across statutory, voluntary and community care providers.

·  The political context, and national media coverage, created challenges for services and staff. From experience, migrants often lived in deprivation and had complex needs; fast paced Government policy changes and local unrest had impacted service provision and building trust with migrant communities was essential to improving service access.

·  Examples of improved processes were noted as, translation service procurement in primary care, the establishment of action workshops and to empower the voices of migrants by informing their views and needs at a commissioner level.

·  The annual report had focused on the health of the Roma communities in Leeds, with assessment results informing pathways to improve health outcomes and service accessibility.

·  Data displayed Roma people had a life expectancy 10 years below the UK average, tended to reside in the less affluent areas and there were issues of distrust with health professionals. Five grants had been awarded through Forum Central, amounting to £12,000, following emerging health needs assessment data, with the final results yet to be confirmed.

·  Through ICB funding, a small team within Children’s and Families, had conducted family support and social work, including drop in sessions at the St Vincent's Centre, to understand the Roma lived experience and the service access barriers.

·  Roma families were often comprised of large family groups, with an average of 6-8 children living in inadequate housing space. For GP appointments, digital communication was less preferred and language barriers often impacted access. There was also some misunderstanding when to use different services and there was also a hesitancy to request care provision.

·  There had been issues with scabies for Roma families, which was often difficult to treat when living in poverty, as well as measles, where patients were unable to attend GP appointments.

·  Public Health had provided accessible communication messages to Roma communities to offer the loan of steamers, as well as partnership offers for laundry to address the rise in scabies. Information on self care and accessing pharmacies for treatment had also been provided.

·  The challenges faced to improve migrant health were, the impact of the cost of living crisis, understanding legal process, complaints of digital exclusion with eVisas, increased service demand and the need to streamline the asylum process.

During discussions, the following matters were considered:

·  It was noted that children of a migrant background often acted as translators for parents or care providers, so the level of engagement with schools was queried. In response, drop in sessions had been held at Hovingham Primary School, where around 60% of students were of Roma ethnicity. It was agreed that, to further this work, involvement in the task group was to be extended to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Active Lifestyles and Culture.

·  In order to reduce barriers to access for screenings such as smear tests, an open door approach, as well as adapting service delivery for Roma people was offered at GPs. Addressing the issue with scabies was to be progressed through community dermatology work, with the associated documentation material offered to be shared with Members. It was noted that small grants to improve service navigation in primary care for Roma people had been approved.

·  The lack of third sector organisations for Roma people was recognised as a barrier to health and care access. The working task group, alongside Forum Central, were identifying how a third sector or hub organisation could be set up authentically.

·  Long term trust in services and health professionals was required in order for sustainable health outcomes to be improved in Roma communities. Leadership were to advocate for improvements through better understanding the needs of the community.

·  The best use for targeting resources was through thorough planning in regard to preventative, protective measures, as well as engagement with faith based organisations. A trial, based on the international model for social care, was scheduled to be piloted in East Leeds to explore options to reduce inequalities faced by Roma communities.

·  Assurance was given that NHS providers were working on the challenges surrounding the equity of access, to inform processes and support partnership working.

·  The best model for community mental health provision was through organisations trusted by migrant communities.

In summary, it was outlined that Leeds was fortunate to have such high value, committed third sector organisations, and despite resource constraints, these organisations were driven to act as allies for migrant communities, which was a testament for the future. The next steps were for the LMHB to refresh their priorities, fill membership gaps in regard to representation and join up work with all relevant partners, with the annual report currently being considered by a wide range of partnership boards.

The Chair noted that the issue raised as part of migrant health charges and associated reluctance to access, was to be addressed by the Leeds Migration Partnership. Migrants faced issues of deprivation and social cohesion and through listening to lived experiences, using resources wisely and targeting training, on topics such as legal rights and responsibilities, were to improve the situation.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the content of the Migrant Health Board Annual Report 2023-24, be noted.

b)  That the rapidly changing migration patterns in Leeds, ensuring services and approaches are culturally appropriate and forward planning for expected new communities, be recognised.

c)  That the voices of migrant communities are central to the development and design of services that they use, be endorsed.

d)  That the work that supports increasing early identification and intervention for migrant communities, be championed.

e)  That the Leeds work to be a city of sanctuary and adopt the principals that improve health and wellbeing for migrant communities, be supported.

f)  That the Voluntary and Community Sector partners who demonstrate system leadership in advocating for and supporting migrant communities, be recognised and be collaborated with.