A New Healthcare Dilemma
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is facing fresh scrutiny after it was revealed that asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, and other vulnerable groups are being given priority care as millions of UK residents wait for treatment. This decision comes amidst a record-breaking six million people on NHS waiting lists, with some waiting as long as 18 weeks just to see a GP.
Implementing the scheme under the NHS’s inclusion health initiative aims to tackle health inequalities, a legal obligation placed on England’s healthcare system. But the question looms—how is this move affecting the broader healthcare landscape?
The 987 Inclusion Health Program
The scheme, known as “987 Inclusion Health,” allows vulnerable individuals—including undocumented migrants, the homeless, and those struggling with substance misuse—to jump the A&E queue for urgent assessments. Once they arrive, they are prioritized for consultation, aiming to reduce barriers that might prevent them from accessing healthcare.
The initiative currently operates across several hubs, including University College London Hospitals (UCLH). Stoke-on-Trent has also launched a dedicated team to assist failed asylum seekers, many of whom are destitute and lack access to basic public funds.
Supporters of the program argue that these groups often lack understanding of how to register with doctors or use the healthcare system effectively. NHS England claims that these measures will help slash health inequality and contribute toward meeting the government’s target of improving life expectancy by 2035.
Rising Backlogs and Public Reaction
However, with over six million people still waiting for care, many question how the NHS can accommodate the added demand. Meanwhile, treatment backlogs remain a hot-button issue for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has vowed to reduce waiting times by adding 40,000 more appointments, scans, and procedures each week during evenings and weekends.
For some patients, the delays have been unbearable. With feelings of anger and frustration mounting, many Brits have voiced concerns over whether the system is disproportionately favoring migrants as citizens endure prolonged waits for essential care.
The Migrant Health Connection
The focus on migrant healthcare comes at a time when asylum claims in Britain have reached a record high. Figures from the Home Office reveal that 67,978 asylum seekers were granted refugee status in the last year—more than triple the amount from the year prior.
Meanwhile, the country is grappling with a rise in “reverse migration,” as hundreds of asylum seekers illegally leave the UK in hopes of reaching France. Criticism around the government’s handling of migration and asylum policies continues to build.
While the NHS reiterates its legal duty to provide healthcare to everyone free at the point of use, this shift in prioritization brings unavoidable consequences for an already strained service.