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challenging inequality :
promoting wellbeing
Maternity Action has
prepared a series of model letters for midwives to use to communicate with the NHS and with the UKBA. These cover some
of the difficult situations faced by refugee and asylum seeking women. 
1 - Letters for NHS Overseas Visitor Managers
These letters relate to charging for NHS maternity care. Please be sure
you understand the charging regulations and guidance before using these letters. The
Entitlement to NHS maternity care information sheet provides a summary of the regulations and guidance.
In summary:
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Refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to free maternity care
- Refused (failed) asylum seekers who are receiving section
4 support are entitled to free maternity care
- Refused (failed) asylum
seekers who are not receiving section 4 support may be charged for maternity care in England and Northern Ireland (but are
entitled to free maternity care in Scotland and Wales)
Letters to use if your client is entitled to free
NHS maternity care but wrongly being asked to pay:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Letter to use if your client is not entitled to free NHS maternity care but is unable to pay for care
Letter to use if your client is not entitled to free NHS maternity care and has experienced aggressive behaviour from the
trust or debt collector about payment of the bill
2 - Letters for the UKBA
These
letters relate to different problems which women may encounter with the UK Border Agency.
Letter to use to request that your client be given permission to make her first claim for asylum locally
Letter to use to request that your client be given permission to make a further claim for asylum locally
Letter to request that face-to-face reporting be suspended
Letter to request late payment of maternity grant
Letter to request alternative accommodation
Letter to request that client is not dispersed
Letter to request that the accommodation provider give the client a taxi voucher or payment so that she can travel to hospital
when she goes into labour
Letter to explain why the client has not reported (due to pregnancy-related illness)
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