Migrant women, pregnancy and domestic abuse
Regulation 9 of the NHS (charges to overseas visitors) regulation 2015 provides that the NHS in England cannot charge “overseas visitors” a condition charged by torture, FGM, domestic violence or sexual violence. Migrants who are normally chargeable as overseas visitors includes undocumented migrants and their children who have lived in England for many years.
NHS trust do not have systems in place to proactively identify victims of domestic abuse and do not notify patients that the exemption exists. For workability survivors need to know about the process especially migrant women who are pregnant and new mothers.
An organisation called Maternity Action provides an advice service for pregnant women and new mothers who are subject to NHS charging for their maternity care and might be eligible to the exemptions.
In their report they challenged the government charging policy. They argue that it is indirect sex discrimination because it applies for maternity care and the impact of charging women’s access to health care is harsh. Unpaid NHS debts which average around £7000 are reported to the Home Office and affect future applications to regularise immigration status.
