ABSTRACT
People from different cultures understand and express health problems differently. Pain may indicate psychological distress, or illness may be regarded as a spiritual problem. There may be different beliefs about medicines. Some may have medicines sent over from their home country. Services for people outside the mainstream of society, such as refugees and the homeless, face particular challenges in engaging and staying with their patients. Charities or specialist psychological trauma services supporting survivors of torture or other mistreatments may be able to provide formal documentation of evidence for the asylum application or appeal. The general practice (GP) may be asked by a solicitor to provide a medical report confirming injuries or other health problems related to the reason for claiming asylum. The GP has an important role in emotional support, signposting, advocacy and building trust through continuity of care and confidentiality.
