Thread by @NevilleSouthall

Hi + thanks for tuning in to this @docsnotcops takeover so far tonight, here from 7-9pm. Now we’ll be talking about the public health impacts of charging migrants to use NHS services #PatientsNotPassports

This @docsnotcops takeover has health workers, activists, campaigners bringing the real stories of the harms of charging to Twitter - I’m a doctor in central London and can't stand how distressing and harmful the charges are @TheBMA #PatientsNotPassports

Even though patients with HIV are not required to pay, the fear factor means migrants who are HIV+ are delaying seeking treatment - according to the @Nat_AIDS_Trust @ACTUP_LDN @lgsmigrants nat.org.uk/publication/ne…

The government knew this would happen - a FOI request by @Natalie_bloomer revealed that the Department of Health was warned the rules could risk an increase in transmissions of HIV/TB/STIs and viral hepatitis by the @PHE_UK @TheLancet @bmj_latest politics.co.uk/news/2018/04/1…

While the @DHSCgovuk & @NHSEngland have a duty to reduce health inequities, these regs serve to widen them - w/ BAME and migrant populations most affected, as well as women. This is a public health crisis. #NHSCrisis @MidwivesRCM @TheRCN @HackneyAbbott

You can read more here in this article in @all4maternity about how pregnant women are disproportionately affected by charging & how this goes against UK guidelines on maternity care all4maternity.com/the-true-cost-… @TheRCN @KingsMaternity @Midwivesmag @DOTW_UK

These same groups already face barriers to accessing care they need, inc. lack of info about health rights & provision, gatekeeping at GP surgeries (see @DOTWUK for more) & language difficulties. @BMA_GP @THKONP

While many migrants are likely to arrive in UK in good health, health deteriorates in the UK. This is attributed to difficulties in living due to immigration policy - no right to work, poor housing, little/no access to state welfare… (see @PICUM_post) libertyhumanrights.org.uk/sites/default/…

We’ve seen the way that immigration policies, & esp. #HostileEnvironment, interact to shut ppl out + affect health. See our thread from earlier tonight on Albert Thompson & others @TheLancetOncol @TheLancet

https://twitter.com/NevilleSouthall/status/1024360812431986688

How can cancer treatment not be classed as “urgent” when delaying diagnosis and treatment makes cancer that can be cured cancer that cannot - and the psychological distress that goes with every day that passes @TheLancetOncol @TheLancet

https://twitter.com/NevilleSouthall/status/1024360812431986688

Any health worker or expert can tell you that restricting access to healthcare can only ever have negative consequences. The @dhscgovuk has been told this, loudly & often. But they don’t listen. So we ask - are they just an arm of @ukhomeoffice?

Health workers have a duty of care to their patients, @TheRCN, @TheBMA it seems that @dhscgovuk disagrees with this particular @gmcuk guidance. For what purpose? Is it really to ‘recoup costs’?

That's the end of the thread on public health - see our thread on the reality of 'recouping costs' from tonight at:

https://twitter.com/NevilleSouthall/status/1024381274297954304