Medics Training Day - 21st Jan 2012
Venue : Medical Justice, 86 Durham Road, London N7 7DT
(bigger rooms booked for this day than used previously)
Doctors who participated in the April 16th 2011 Medics Training Day said ;
“Covered a lot but all info was reinforced / reflected on throughout the day – very memorable. Info all pitched at right level for range of experience of participants.”
“Really informative day, excellently organized + inspiring. Well prepared material. Food was amazing – thank you !”
Further feedback
About the training
This training is for doctors who are or intend to visit immigration detainees on the request of Medical Justice.
The training programme includes sessions running in parallel to suit clinicians who have never made a detention medical visit before, as well as medics who have seen many detainees in immigration removal centres. Trainers include doctors,barristers and Medical Justice staff.
The deprivation of liberty for detained asylum seekers and other migrants too often results in the deprivation of their health rights. Our experience shows that many immigration detainees have serious medical and psychological conditions which are not recognised, poorly treated or even ignored while in detention. The process of detention itself is also often damaging to their health. By conducting a proper clinical examination and writing up a report, visiting independent doctors can have a very positive impact on the lives and health of this most vulnerable group of people in the UK.
The training days will cover in detail about referrals to Medical Justice, how detention centre visits are arranged, what to look for when seeing patients and how to write an appropriate report. Communicating with lawyers and detention centre health care staff will also be discussed. There will also be talks on the asylum determination process and writing medico-legal reports (MLRs).
Medical Justice works as a support network - there is friendly, helpful advice available from other doctors, lawyers and visitors in the network. For example we ensure that new doctors have access to tutorials and are accompanied on the first visit by a more experienced doctor, and that there is always easy access to advice thereafter.
The programme is designed so that medics who have not done a medical visit before can attend the “Introduction to Medical Justice” double-length workshop in the morning. Sessions on Scars, MLRs, the Asylum Determination Process and Phone-Work are so important and popular that we have scheduled them in a way that participants never have to choose between one of those topics.
Programme (subject to some modification) ;
11.00 - 11.30 : Registration and Introductions
11.30 - 1.30 : Introduction to Medical Justice (double-length session)
11.30 - 12.30 : HIV
12.30 - 1.30 : Phone work
1.30 - 2.30 : Lunch
2.30 - 3.30 : Documenting Scars / Assault Injuries
2.30 - 3.30 : Asylum Determination Process
3.30 - 3.45 : Tea
3.45 - 4.45 : Writing MLRs
4.45 - 5.15 : Discussion in groups
5.15 - 5.30 : Wrap-up / Q&A Session
About the sessions ;
Introduction / Registration
Please sign the register, take your name-badge, help your self to copies of the training material. Tea, coffee and snacks available.
Introduction to Medical Justice
This double-length session is aimed at equipping clinicians new to Medical Justice with the skills and confidence to undertake medical assessments of patients detained in immigration detention centres and covers ;
* Outline of the asylum determination process
* Who is detained, when, why, how long for, by whom, and where.
* Conditions in immigration detention.
* Healthcare provision in detention.
* What the independent medic’s role is during the detention visit.
* Common issues, including HIV cases and the provision of anti-malarials.
* The Medical Justice referrals process and how cases are prioritised.
* MLRs
* Media, parliamentary and campaigning activities.
* Arranging a “shadow visit”.
* Medical Justice tutorials.
Writing MLRs ; anticipating difficulties and responding to judges' comments
This session will cover: how to make your reports work; what the courts are looking for; an outline of the relevant law; how the Home Office may try to undermine you; tips and tricks and things to avoid; and how to communicate with lawyers without ruining your working relationship with them.
Documenting Scars
Identifying scars – mostly scars of torture.
Asylum Determination Process
This session will provide an overview of the asylum determination process so medics can see what part medical evidence plays in the decision-making process.
Phone Work - handling cases remotely
This session gives detail on cases that can be progressed by independent medics without a detention centre visit, or where “removal directions” are too close for a visit to be possible.
Treatment of HIV+ detainees
This session includes the interruption and denial of medication, testing and ensuring results are provided in an appropriate and timely fashion, and adherence to the BHIVA guidelines.
Discussion in groups
This is a session so that people grouped together (e.g. by medical speciality, or geography, etc.) get a chance to discuss common issues and concerns. Also, to give feedback about the training day and suggestions for the next training day.
Wrap-up Session
Participants will be encouraged to give feedback on the day’s training. Attendance certificates will be available for each participant.
Costs : none.
To book a place please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Contact : Emma Ginn on 07904 778365
Directions to Medical Justice (86 Durham Road, London, N7 7DT - see photo below) - the nearest tube is Finsbury Park which is 5-10 minutes walk to Medical Justice. See map below. There is parking available but you have to feed the parking meter £4 every two hours.
Last Updated on Sunday, 13 November 2011 22:20