One third of practices confirmed as Safe Surgeries

The charity, Doctors of the World UK, has announced that one in three GP practices across England are now confirmed Safe Surgeries.

Safe Surgeries are GP practices addressing the barriers to healthcare access for migrants in vulnerable circumstances. They lead by example by committing to register patients without a Visa, ID or Proof of Address which are not required by NHS guidance.

What began in 2018 as a small initiative by Doctors of The World UK has grown into a national movement. Our first launch event in the West Midlands brought together 50 healthcare professionals and commissioners, and 16 practices joined. Today, the network includes 2,676 GP practices in England, advocating the healthcare rights of people experiencing homelessness, seeking asylum, or migrants.

The network is recognised as Best Practice by the NHS, and endorsed by the Royal College of Nurses, the British Medical Association, and Royal College of GPs. Their support stops many lives in the UK from falling through cracks in NHS systems.

In 2023, Safe Surgeries was evaluated by University College London within their Right to Care project. The results demonstrate why this work matters – undocumented patients are twice as likely to be refused registration at non-Safe Surgeries General Practices.

A DOTW spokesperson said: ‘Through these collaborations, we are delivering life-saving healthcare, amplifying and advocating for migrant voices for systemic change, and empowering communities facing healthcare in-access and exclusion – despite the Government’s continued pursuit of hostile immigration policies.’

DOTW provides training, guidance and practical support to over 6,000 healthcare professionals. Its Safe Surgeries Toolkit and e-Learning platform have already been completed by more than 8,600 clinicians.

• Read more about the scheme in our article, Welcoming everyone to primary care: Safe Surgeries
• You can find out more about registering your practice as a Safe Surgery at https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/safesurgeries/