Migrant health and wellbeing

chinese man The number one health problem for migrants living in Belfast is access to health and social care services.

Belfast Health Development Unit has been set up by Belfast City Council, Public Health Agency and Belfast Trust, to facilitate partnership working in Belfast to tackle inequalities in health.

One of the unit's priorities is to develop an integrated, city-wide approach to delivering effective and sustainable health and wellbeing outcomes for black and minority ethnic groups.

The 'Barriers to health: migrant health and wellbeing in Belfast' report is the first step in achieving this priority, and it identifies the steps we need to tackle. We need to know the problem before we can deal with it.

Ways to overcome these barriers have been proposed in three report recommendations which are:
  1. Improved access to health care - through development of the interpreter's service and a welcome pack and orientation course for new arrivals
  2. A one stop service for migrants with a central co-ordinator
  3. Training and guidelines for health and social care professionals
Belfast Health Development Unit will progress this work, though it is hoped that a regional steering group to address migrant health needs will be established long term.

Further information