Refugees get support from nursing team
CREWS in Glasgow are helping hundreds of Ukrainians settle in the city after fleeing their war-torn homeland. Teams from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council are assisting the newly arrived refugees.
While some have been hosted in private homes, around 300 are being housed in hotel accommodation and are being provided support by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership teams.
The asylum and refugee team has successfully moved on 23 households and will continue to match people to properties in the coming weeks and months.
Meanwhile, a specialist nursing-led health team has stepped up to support the Ukrainian guests when they arrive in Glasgow.
The team offers the refugees and Glasgow’s asylum-seeking population an initial health assessment.
It also provides immediate medical support and facilitates GP registration for all ongoing health needs or medication requests.
The team also refers to other NHS service providers and third-sector organisations to support community integration into Glasgow.
Stewart Curtis, the nurse team leader, who manages the service, said: “We offered our support, given that Glasgow is one of the hubs for the super sponsor scheme, and we have significant experience in supporting asylum-seeking communities.
“It’s been quite a move for us, and the team has nearly doubled in size, but the response from everyone involved has been phenomenal.”
The team goes to where the newly arrived Ukrainians are housed, providing initial healthcare assessments, carrying out routine blood screening and linking them with an emergency GP if they have any immediate health concerns.
It supports those impacted by trauma and conflict while assisting those with immediate health concerns or chronic long-term illnesses.
Senior health nurse, Craig Davidson, said: “If someone comes with a long-term condition or has complex health needs and is fleeing a war zone, the last thing we want them to be worrying about is where their medication or care is coming from.
“While they will never forget what has happened, we hope we can alleviate some of the stress associated with their healthcare needs.”
The vast majority are women and children, given Ukraine’s ban on men of fighting age leaving the country.
Craig added: “Children have different needs. Depending on their age, they’re not always aware of what happened with the Ukraine war, so it’s much more difficult for children to comprehend.
“However, some of that innocence can provide protection, but it doesn’t dilute the significant worry parents have for their children. It must be very unsettling.”
Susanne Millar, chief officer at Glasgow City HSCP, said: “Those arriving are in good hands. The plan is to move people on from the hotel as quickly as possible, although this can be challenging given the different demands for accommodation.
“The Ukrainians are matched with hosts who have offered accommodation or housing association properties that have been leased to us.
“It is challenging but thanks to the experience of our staff, our new fellow citizens are settling in smoothly and continue to tell us how thankful they are for everything being done for them and the generosity shown by the people of Glasgow.”