Croydon vulnerable migrants’ experiences of health and care services
This report was funded by the Care Quality Commission(CQC) and supports their wider work in engaging with seldom listened to groups.
We worked closely with the Rainbow Health Centre to interview and survey 58 vulnerable migrants from 24 countries, living in Croydon. They share their experiences of using health and social care services with us. Our thanks to all who participated in the survey and interviews and to Rainbow Health Centre staff and the Best Western Queens Hotel Crystal Palace management for enabling access to participants.
We worked closely with the Rainbow Health Centre to interview and survey 58 vulnerable migrants from 24 countries, living in Croydon. They share their experiences of using health and social care services with us. Our thanks to all who participated in the survey and interviews and to Rainbow Health Centre staff and the Best Western Queens Hotel Crystal Palace management for enabling access to participants.
Insights:
The Rainbow Health Centre, as a dedicated service working closely with vulnerable migrants within their accommodation, has made a significant difference to those needing to access and use services. However, there is more to be done around pathways, ensuring cultural understanding and sensitivity, and managing expectations of access and use of services. The CQC needs to explore ways to raise its profile with vulnerable migrants.
The CQC are already applying the findings in the planning and state in the report:
“We were pleased to see a strong focus on people’s voices and views throughout the report. Healthwatch Croydon understood and delivered the voice of people in this work, which will help us continue to apply people's experiences during regulatory work and in future research or engagement activity we undertake.
“The next steps are already in motion starting with awareness raising and promotion of this work across CQC. We are confident that this work can be applied to different areas of our organisation, and support to build our ability to co-design and involve people, families, and carers from seldom heard communities, in what we say and do as a regulator.”
As Healthwatch Croydon, we look forward to working with local services, particularly through the Croydon Health Inclusion Steering Group, to discuss how services can be more aligned to the needs to one of the most vulnerable and diverse populations in Croydon.
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Croydon vulnerable migrants’ experiences of health and care services
