‘Asian women in
Oxford facing barriers to see their GP’
ASIAN
women in Oxford face too many barriers to access their GPs, according to a
watchdog report.
Language
issues, a lack of Asian doctors and not enough community-based services are the
main issues, Healthwatch Oxfordshire said.
A
survey of 101 Asian women in the city found 62 said they found it hard to
access medical services.
They
said language barriers made them feel unwelcome, they felt unable to talk to
male staff and it was difficult to get transport.
One
told researchers: “Communicating with my GP is a real issue as I do not
understand his language and culture and he does not understand mine.
“I
have to rely on my husband to interpret for me.”
The
report was funded by the official health and social care watchdog and was
carried out by the Asian Women’s Group (AWG).
Lead
researcher and AWG chairwoman Aziza Shafique said: “People who can’t speak
English need more interpreting services.
“GPs
should identify whose patients who have got a language barrier and produce an
interpreter for them when they have appointments.
“At
the moment people are translating through their family which is very
embarrassing and also stops their confidentiality.
“It
means if there’s anything they don’t want their family to know, they don’t tell
anyone. It compromises their rights.
“GP
practices need to hire more diverse doctors that maybe are from Asian
background or from a similar culture, who are able to speak the language and
understand the religious needs.
“They
also need to highlight which of their doctors speak different languages and are
from Asian cultures so women know.
“I
understand there are cuts and fewer resources, but they need to be more
creative with the resources they do have.”
She
said another issue is the distance people have to travel to surgeries and more
community-based services would help.
She
added: “Doctors need to be more flexible about where they deliver their
services.
“They
should go and hold sessions in community centres and children’s centres, maybe
as drop-in sessions.”
NHS
England spokeswoman Natalie Hagan said: “All GP practices are required to
access translation services for their patients and we will be following up the
concerns raised in this report.
“We
will work with practices to ensure they are meeting the needs of all patients
and the local community.”
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