Building Bridges: Understanding hospital care for refugee and asylum-seeking women
Bristol is home to around 5,000 refugee and asylum seekers. This means that there is a huge need for inclusive, accessible communication from local health and social care services.
With so many languages and backgrounds, it’s easy to see why "standard" communication doesn’t always cut it.
Making services inclusive and accessible benefits everyone.
We set out to chat with women about their hospital stays and get a "behind the scenes" look from healthcare professionals - but it wasn't easy. Despite advertising in multiple languages at Bristol’s biggest hospitals and reaching out to busy healthcare professionals, It was hard to get people to talk.
Many women we met at community events had thankfully never needed a hospital stay, and the professionals on the frontline are often focused on providing urgent, day-to-day support.
However, thanks to the amazing team at Refugee Women of Bristol, we were able to sit down and have a meaningful chat with one mum about her experience.
She had her third child in a Bristol hospital. Her story is an example of what care should look like.
- She used a telephone translation service that worked perfectly.
- She felt safe, respected, and listened to.
- She got the help she needed with breastfeeding and healing.
- She received three home visits from midwives and health visitors after leaving.
But we know this isn't the case for everyone. At Healthwatch, we've also heard that:
- Language barriers and cultural differences have a huge impact on RAS women's ability to access and receive care.
- Maternity care for RAS women is especially affected by language barriers and cultural differences.
Looking at reports from other areas like Coventry, Leicester, and Greenwich, a few patterns emerge.
- The 'Info Gap': Many women miss out on essential care simply because they don't have clear info on what’s available or how much it costs.
- Lost in Translation: Even when interpreters are available, they aren't always accurate, leading to confusion.
- The Fear Factor: Sadly, many people avoid hospitals altogether because they fear being treated differently or facing stigma.
- Isolation: Many women feel supported in the hospital but feel completely alone once they go home with their new baby.
What’s next?
We’re calling for more in-depth research into maternity care to ensure every woman feels safe and supported.
Want to share your feedback about maternity care with us? Complete our online form.
This project was led and developed by Lavinia Irimia, Placement Research and Engagement Officer with Healthwatch and a Psychology student at the University of Bath.
