Tendayi Madzunzu, GAP associate, and Guguletho Sibanda and Chenai Mudzamiri, who are participants in the GAP Unit's Community Researchers course, recently undertook primary research in refugee communities to establish common problems in relation to heath care. They worked with Hannah and Carolina to create and present the opening address at the Central Manchester University Hospitals Equality and Diversity event on 8th October 2010, communicating some of the problems experienced by asylum seekers and refugees when accessing the NHS and showing how cultural assumptions and oversights resulting from lack of familiarity with different communities can have very negative effects but can be easily avoided. The event was attended by around 100 NSH staff, including practioners and managers from the Trusts Eye, Dental, MRI, Children’s and St Mary’s hospitals. We were very pleased to have been given this high profile opportunity which will have raised awareness of the needs of asylum seekers and refugees among professionals with the power to make a real difference in the quality of their patients' care.
Feedback comments received by the organisers included: "Thought provoking presentations – particularly asylum seekers", "The talk from the asylum seekers was very insightful", "GAP presentation – moving and informative"