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Grenfell Tower survivors 'too scared to seek help' because of immigration status Grenfell Tower survivors 'too scared to seek help' because of immigration status
(35 minutes later)
Volunteer doctors and lawyers providing support to survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster have spoken of residents who escaped from the fire but they believe remain too frightened seek medical and legal help for fear of being reported to the Home Office because of their irregular immigration status. Volunteer doctors and lawyers providing support to survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster have spoken of residents who escaped from the fire but remain, they believe, too frightened seek to medical and legal help for fear of being reported to the Home Office because of their irregular immigration status.
Paquita de Zulueta, a GP who has been volunteering to help survivors in the Westway centre since last Thursday, said she and colleagues were aware of at least three patients who were reluctant to go to hospital because of concerns about their immigration status.Paquita de Zulueta, a GP who has been volunteering to help survivors in the Westway centre since last Thursday, said she and colleagues were aware of at least three patients who were reluctant to go to hospital because of concerns about their immigration status.
One woman from north Africa was referred to De Zulueta by a volunteer psychological counsellor, because she was complaining about a possible head injury. One woman from north Africa was referred to De Zulueta by a volunteer psychological counsellor because she was complaining about a possible head injury. “On her way out of the building, coming down the stairs, she hit her head and she lost consciousness for a few minutes. Someone helped her out of the building,” the GP said said. Her partner and other relatives are still missing, presumed dead. “The counsellor said she was too scared to go to hospital.”
“On her way out of the building coming down the stairs she hit her head and she had lost consciousness for a few minutes. Someone helped her out of the building,” she said. Her partner and other relatives are still missing, presumed dead, the GP said. “The counsellor said she was too scared to go to hospital.” De Zulueta, who lectures in public health and primary care at Imperial College, continued: “She was visibly distressed, she had short-term memory loss, dizziness, headaches – symptoms which could relate to traumatic stress or which could indicate brain injury. While I was talking to her, her level of consciousness was fluctuating, which is another sign of brain injury.
De Zulueta, who lectures in public health and primary care at Imperial College, continued: “She was visibly distressed, she had short-term memory loss, dizziness, headaches – symptoms which could relate to traumatic stress or which could indicate brain injury. While I was talking to her, her level of consciousness was fluctuating, which is another sign of brain injury. I felt quite strongly that she should go to A&E. She was very reluctant. When I asked if she was frightened to go, she nodded.” “I felt quite strongly that she should go to A&E. She was very reluctant. When I asked if she was frightened to go, she nodded.” She called an ambulance for the patient and persuaded her to go. “I told her there would be no repercussions and that she would be safe,” she said.
In her Commons statement Theresa May made it clear that no immigration checks would be carried out on survivors or relatives of the dead. In her Commons statement, Theresa May made it clear that no immigration checks would be carried out on survivors or relatives of the dead. “We will not use this tragic incident as a reason to carry out immigration checks on those involved,” the prime minister said. “We will make sure that all victims, irrespective of their immigration status, will be able to access the services they need, including healthcare and accommodation.”
“We will not use this tragic incident as a reason to carry out immigration checks on those involved,” the prime minister said. “We will make sure that all victims, irrespective of their immigration status, will be able to access the services they need, including healthcare and accommodation.” But volunteers working at the Westway centre said they were concerned that some survivors might be discouraged from coming to the relief centre to seek help because of the police officers standing at the door. “There are police manning the cordons, and that in itself is quite intimidating. This place is crawling with officials. If you put yourself in the position of people who are frightened of getting into trouble, this isn’t a very welcoming place,” De Zulueta said.
But volunteers working at the Westway centre said they were concerned some survivors might be discouraged from coming to the relief centre to seek help because there were so many police officers standing at the door. Other medical experts volunteering at the centre reported treating at least two other patients with similar concerns about seeking NHS help, worried that they would have to put their names on a list. “The patients were frightened of being identified for fear of arrest or deportation,” De Zulueta said.
“There are police manning the cordons and that in itself is quite intimidating. This place is crawling with officials. If you put yourself in the position of people who are frightened of getting into trouble, this isn’t a very welcoming place,” De Zulueta said.
She called an ambulance for the patient and persuaded her to go. “I told her there would be no repercussions and that she would be safe,” she said.
Medical colleagues, volunteering at the same centre, reported treating at least two other patients with similar concerns about seeking NHS help, for fear that they would have to put their names on a list. “The patients were frightened of being identified for fear of arrest or deportation,” De Zulueta said.
Most of the patients coming in for support a week after the disaster are reporting insomnia and flashbacks; some have lost their medication. “We worry that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. There may be others who won’t come here because there are too many figures of authority,” said De Zulueta, who has experience with working with undocumented migrants as a volunteer doctor with the Doctors of the World clinic in east London.Most of the patients coming in for support a week after the disaster are reporting insomnia and flashbacks; some have lost their medication. “We worry that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. There may be others who won’t come here because there are too many figures of authority,” said De Zulueta, who has experience with working with undocumented migrants as a volunteer doctor with the Doctors of the World clinic in east London.
Lawyers Abbas Nowrazaede and Khatija Sacranie, who have founded the Grenfell Legal Support organisation, based in a flat near the tower, were also concerned that some survivors were not coming forward. Lawyers Abbas Nawrozzadeh and Khatija Sacranie, who have founded the Grenfell Legal Support organisation, based in a flat near the tower, were also concerned that some survivors were not coming forward. The organisation is advising residents to choose reputable legal professionals amid reports of an influx of lawyers touting for business in the area.
The organisation is advising residents to choose reputable legal professional, amid reports of an influx of lawyers touting for business in the area. Made up of a collective of volunteer lawyers – who like Sacranie and Nowrazaede have taken leave of absence from their day jobs to offer legal advice to victims – the group is advising on immediate issues. These range from housing, immigration, welfare benefits, employment issues around the right to take time off for people on zero-hours contracts, to helping with liaising with coroners. Made up of a collective of volunteer lawyers – who like Sacranie and Nawrozzadeh have taken leave of absence from their day jobs to offer legal advice to victims – the group is advising on immediate issues. These range from housing, immigration, welfare benefits, employment issues around the right to take time off for people on zero-hours contracts, to helping with liaising with coroners.
“The people who are more longer-term UK residents are more vocal and forthright about their rights. The more marginalised don’t know their rights,” Sacranie said, after attending two legal and housing advice meetings for residents on the estate.“The people who are more longer-term UK residents are more vocal and forthright about their rights. The more marginalised don’t know their rights,” Sacranie said, after attending two legal and housing advice meetings for residents on the estate.
They are also building a data platform to help survivors upload videos and documentary evidence from the night, to help with a collation of evidence for an inquest, and want to help lawyers to collaborate, to ensure the inquiry gets under way swiftly. “One of the reasons that Hillsborough took so long was that there was no collaboration,” Nowrazaede said. They are also building a data platform to help survivors upload videos and documentary evidence from the night, to help with a collation of evidence for an inquest, and want to help lawyers to collaborate, to ensure that the inquiry gets under way swiftly. “One of the reasons that Hillsborough took so long was that there was no collaboration,” Nawrozzadeh said.
The group is sending updates by text to more than 40 affected families. Both lawyers are concerned that now that families have been rehoused in hotels across London many feel isolated, with many too traumatised to travel to activist meetings. The group is sending updates by text to more than 40 affected families. Both lawyers are concerned that since families have been rehoused in hotels across London, many feel isolated, and many are too traumatised to travel to activist meetings.
They were hoping to assist a group of four Moroccan women who escaped from the block, and who they understood were refusing any help. “Our translator has spoken to them,” Sacranie said.They were hoping to assist a group of four Moroccan women who escaped from the block, and who they understood were refusing any help. “Our translator has spoken to them,” Sacranie said.
“There is a cultural division between residents. People who are more longer term residents are more vocal and forthright about their rights. The marginalised don’t know their rights and there is a lot of mistrust. A lot of the victims are not able to navigate the system. The people who were marginalised previously are now even more so; you won’t see them going to the community meetings; you won’t see them asking for something. They need a voice,” Sacranie said. “A lot of the victims are not able to navigate the system. The people who were marginalised previously are now even more so; you won’t see them going to the community meetings; you won’t see them asking for something. They need a voice,” she added.