(c)Spike Johnson
La Boussole : What are the political and media environment towards migrants living in the United-Kingdom?
Lucy Jones : The United-Kingdom has a long and proud history of immigration but at the moment it’s a very challenging environment in the UK for migrants. Public opinion shows that people feel migrants are integrated in the areas in which they live and this is seen most positively in London. But people also still think that migration is a problem for the country as a whole. Many believe migrants are putting pressure on already stretched public services. The government has committed to reducing the amount of migrants coming to the UK and with a general election in 2015 migration is still a key issue for voters. As a result of this the Department of Health is planning to increase healthcare charges for visitors and migrants. In this environment we see people being turned away from healthcare services although legal changes have not yet been made.
LB: Does MdM UK carry out actions for migrants? If so, which ones?
L.J : Our UK Programme, based in London is open to anyone having problems accessing healthcare but because of our public health system, 100% of the people we see in our clinic are migrants. The majority of them are undocumented and experience exclusion because they don’t understand the system. They are frightened of the implications of seeking care don’t have formal paperwork to prove their identity or address. People working in the healthcare system also don’t understand they are entitled to care and refuse them access. On average, the migrants attending our clinic have lived in the UK for 5 years before they try to see a doctor but we do see people who have arrived in the country more recently. We provide a free medical consultation and advocate on their behalf to get them access to ongoing primary care.
LB : What is your view on the situation in Northern France?
L.J : I took the ferry to Calais in June to see the migrant camps and was shocked by the horrendous conditions people were living in. For the first time in my life, I saw people so desperate they were fighting for food and it was here, in Europe. Whatever your view on whether migrants should come to the UK, anybody seeing this situation must understand that they have experienced unimaginable hardships and should not deny them the right to live safely, healthily and without hunger. I don’t know what the solution to the problem is but I know we can make people’s lives a little better by providing basic facilities, food and healthcare.
LB : What’s your view on Mrs. Theresa May and Mr. Bernard Cazeneuve joint statement?
L.J : It’s great that France and the UK are starting to talk constructively about how to approach the issue. I would strongly recommend that their considerations extend further to providing humanitarian support. When the UNHCR visited recently, they commented on the worsening situation, in particular vulnerability of women and children and the need for more adequate services to support them.
LB : Do you work or communicate with French and Belgian teams on the “migrant” issue?
L.J : Yes, we are working well with MdM France and Belgium sharing information about the situation in each country and developing ideas and plans for how we can work together in the future.
Lucy Jones is UK Programme Manager @ MdM UK