Respond is an integrated health service, based at UCLH, for people of all ages seeking asylum and refugees. Our staff are trauma-informed experts who collaborate with local, specialist, and third sector services to provide timely and compassionate care. This is a free and confidential service hosted by the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in collaboration with Children and Young People’s Division at UCLH. 

Respond clinic appointments are offered via an enhanced opt-in system. Referred individuals will be contacted via telephone (with interpreter) to schedule an appointment. 

A completed referral form is required to access any of the Respond services. To request a referral form and/or discuss eligibility for our services at local, regional and national level, please email: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net for more information. Referrals are accepted from the following professionals:   

  • Primary care professionals   
  • Community NHS teams  
  • Hospital teams including acute medicine, paediatrics, ED teams, inpatient teams etc.   
  • Local authority staff including social workers, health visitors, Early Help teams, school nursing teams etc. 
  • Third sector organisations 

We accept referrals from the above for any person seeking asylum or who is a refugee regardless of geographical location or borough. 

Respond is not an acute or emergency service, we aim to offer an appointment within a few weeks after receiving the completed referral form.

For any medical concerns or urgent issues, please ensure people seeking asylum and refugees are supported to access GP services and urgent care pathways as needed. Where indicated, local safeguarding pathways should be followed alongside referral to Respond services.

Other contact information

For outreach health assessment and care planning in contingency accommodation in North Central London: email: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net.

For infection screening and treatment, or if a service user needs to see a paediatrician, and is a refugee/asylum seeker/migrant from any borough in any accommodation: email uclh.referrals.paedidgrading@nhs.net (Looked After children, family groups or children) or uclh.htdadmin@nhs.net (lone adults).

If you wish to discuss a refugee or asylum seeker (children or adults) with complex health and/or wellbeing needs who is an asylum seeker from any borough in any accommodation at our RESPOND advice and guidance MDT, please email: uclh.respondmdt@nhs.net. 

For referral details for infection screening for Children and Young People seeking asylum or refugees unaccompanied by family members, found here.

Referral

Other referral information

For referral details for infection screening for Children and oung People seeking asylum or refugees unaccompanied by family members,

For children and young people under 18 years old, please find here.

 

 

Our team includes health care assistants, nurses and doctors experienced in refugee and migrant health, infectious diseases, acute and primary care. We have an experienced administration team and work with clinical research fellows involved in both research and clinical services.

Staff includes:

  • Alli Ward
  • Sarah Eisen
  • Nicky Longley
  • Aileen Ni Chaoilte
  • Philippa Harris
  • Paola Cinardo
  • Admin team
  • Sakaria Ali
  • Camilla Sen
  • Joanna Martin

UCLH Divisional Managers:

  • Toral Pandya (Children and Young People)
  • Martin Bruce (Infection)

  • Can individuals or families who have been relocated as part of a government relocation programme access Respond services?

Yes, all those seeking asylum and refugees of any nationality are eligible for Respond services.

  • I am interested in participating in the Respond Research Programme – how can I find out more? Respond has a wide range of academic collaborations across multiple sectors and fields.

Join one of our monthly Q&A sessions to learn more. Please email us on: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net to sign up.

  • I am an interested student or professional, how can I get involved?

Respond is currently developing an observer and elective programme, with an aim to offer placements in 2025. Up until this time, Respond is unable to accept any requests for observer and elective placements in our team. If you would like to attend one of our monthly Q&A sessions about the Respond service, please email us on: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net.

  • Does Respond accept volunteers?

Unfortunately, Respond is not able to accept volunteers. If you have any questions or queries, please email us on: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net

  • How do I get an appointment? Currently, you are unable to refer yourself to this service.

Please contact your GP, support worker, social worker, paediatrician, or other healthcare professional who can refer you to us.

  • How will I know if I have an appointment?

Before we book you an appointment, one of our team will phone you to arrange a time which works for you. Please note, this call may be from a private number. We will also send you a text message with the details of your appointment.

  • Where will my appointment be?

Your appointment will be at UCLH or another venue within the community. We will text you with the location.

  • How long will my appointment be?

Appointments can generally take up to 1 hour per individual. For family units, the appointments can take up to 4 hours, depending on the size of the family.

  • How will I find out my results?

If there is anything urgent, we will phone you. You and your GP will always receive a letter with your results and plan.

  • I don’t speak English; can I still access the service?

Yes, our services provide a telephone interpreter as required.

  • Will the service help me with my asylum claim?

We are not connected to the Home Office and do not share information with them. If you need help with your asylum claim, you should contact migrant help, the free helpline is: 0808 8010 503.

Respond has academic affiliations with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and University College London (UCL). It is currently leading several research projects with the aim of providing crucial data on the health needs of this population and use of health services.

We are co-producing qualitative work with both service users and providers, to give much-needed insights into the experience of asylum-seekers when accessing the health system, and the staff who work with them.

The team also delivers education and training in a variety of settings. For more information, email on: uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net.

We have strong ties with the Hospital for Tropical Diseases fellowship, offering research opportunities for doctors in training. Please email: n.longley@nhs.net for details.  

We also support a programme for Paediatric Clinical Academic Fellows interested in developing research in this area, please contact: sarah.eisen@nhs.net for more information.

Donations help support the RESPOND service, a part of UCLH Charity, which enhances care beyond NHS provision. We aim to raise funds for a support worker with lived asylum seeker experience. Every contribution counts!

To donate, please click here. For larger donations or more information, email uclh.respondmailbox@nhs.net.

Consultants