Reception and Intregration Agency

As part of its multi-agency approach, the Agency's health expert works in close consultation with the Health Boards on a wide range of health issues.

Health services in Ireland are accessible to all persons who need them, irrespective of race, creed or colour. However, the now multicultural nature of Irish society has highlighted issues in service delivery such as  cultural differences and language barriers which require ongoing evaluation and attention.

Examples of current initiatives include:

An initiative with the Department of Health and Children and the Irish College of General Practitioners to develop a training programme for general practitioners. This programme will be geared towards developing a greater understanding of the differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds from which asylum seekers come and the implications of this for the delivery of health services. It is intended to develop similar programmes for other health services personnel, including nurses, community pharmacists and psychologists.

Initiatives with the Health Boards on a wide range of health issues including the making of health promotion literature more accessible to newcomers and on the promotion of greater awareness of how to access health services and the appropriate use of such services.

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