Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK to escape the war are risking their lives by returning to their countries for emergency treatment after leaving the NHS.
Due to pressure from the NHS and long waiting lists for procedures, Ukrainians living with families in the UK are making the perilous journey back to the war zone, where they receive immediate care from doctors despite Russian bombing of their cities.
Shortly after President Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops to Ukraine last February 24, the British government announced that all refugees from the country would be given free and unrestricted access to the National Health Service.
Last spring, Maya Habruk fled Kyiv, along with five million fellow citizens, and found refuge with a couple in southeast London. But she returned to Ukraine in mid-December after she did not receive the necessary treatment at her local hospital in Lewisham.
Ms. Habruk, 31, suffers from angina pectoris and, despite chest pains, cannot make an appointment with a general practitioner. During a phone consultation, she was told to take paracetamol, but the pain persisted.
Shortly thereafter, Ms. Habruk also developed severe pain in her cheek and waited four hours at the local emergency room before standing at the front of the line.
“I had excruciating pain in my face,” Maya said. “I couldn’t sleep and the painkillers didn’t work.
“I went to the NHS live chat and was told to wait for a call the next day, but the call didn’t go through so I went to the hospital.
“After four hours of waiting, the doctor didn’t even look at me and told me to take paracetamol too. Again, it didn’t help and I was still in a lot of pain.”
She decided the only way to get the treatment she thought she needed was to make a 24-hour trip back to Ukraine, which included a flight to Poland and a long and dangerous train ride to Kyiv.
“I was told that I had an urgent problem with my wisdom tooth and that I needed to remove it immediately,” Ms Habruk added.
“I don’t mean to criticize the NHS in any way. I think it’s great that everyone can get help for free.”
Ms. Habruk’s pain was caused by pulpitis, an inflammation of the inner soft tissue of the tooth that, if not treated quickly, can lead to persistent pain or sensitivity. A doctor in Ukraine immediately removed the tooth.
Maya, who witnessed Russian bombings in Kyiv almost every day, knows three other Ukrainians in London who sought emergency medical care in their war-torn country because there was no immediate treatment available from the National Health Service.
This was stated by the Shadow Secretary of the Labor Party for Health Wes Streeting. I: “Vladimir Putin drops bombs on Ukrainian hospitals, but patients would rather return to Kyiv than be on NHS waiting lists.
“Rishi Sunak should be ashamed of the state of healthcare.”
Another Ukrainian woman who took refuge in Glasgow also went home to seek medical attention.
Maria is 22 years old and has been living in Scotland since the summer. She suffers from a hormonal thyroid disease that requires regular examination and treatment.
But after a visit to her new internist in Glasgow, she decided that the wait for treatment was so long that it would be wiser for her to return to the war in her country to see a doctor in Kyiv.
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: “This is a damning indictment of government NHS records for Ukrainian refugees returning to the war-torn country to gain access to healthcare.”
NHS services across the UK are suffering an unprecedented shutdown due to the flu outbreak, the fight against Covid-19 and other winter illnesses. Emergency services are facing record delays and critical incidents have been reported across the country by the Health Foundation.
A spokesperson for the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient privacy.
“Patients admitted to our emergency department receive appropriate treatment based on the symptoms they present.
“We encourage anyone with concerns about their care to contact our PALS and Complaints Department, who will conduct a thorough investigation.”
This was announced by the press secretary of the Department of Health and Social Protection. “In the UK, Europe and around the world, health systems are under severe strain from the impact of the pandemic, the rapid rise in influenza, Streptococcus A and persistently high levels of Covid.”
An NHS spokesman said: “Refugees living in this country should have access to the care and support they need. The NHS is under a lot of pressure, with the latest figures showing 19 out of 20 beds full, high levels of hospital-acquired respiratory illness added to record demand in emergency departments, and more than 14,000 patients admitted every day in the hospital. discharge is possible only in a healthy state, but it is important that people continue to seek treatment – by calling 999 in an emergency or by contacting a general practitioner or by calling 111 via the Internet.
The Scottish Government was asked to comment on the situation.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.