The Haven

The Haven is a service for asylum seekers and refugees who:

• are in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area
• are newly arrived in the UK and seeking asylum, or have recently gained refugee status
• have come to join a refugee family member as part of the ‘family reunion’ immigration scheme
• asylum seekers who have been transferred to Bristol from elsewhere in the country and have complex health problems

People should bring proof of their asylum application, this can be either their letter from the Home Office or their Asylum Registration Card (ARC).

The Haven is a specialist primary healthcare service for asylum seekers and refugees who are new to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Our team of staff consists of a GP and nurses who will assess and meet the initial health needs of asylum seekers and new refugees.  We also help people to access health services and other services they need.

The Haven can offer:

• comprehensive and holistic health assessments
• medical management of current health problems
• vaccinations and screening for transmittable diseases
• help for people  to register with a local GP practice
• information about how to use the NHS
• confidential interpreting during consultations

We regularly work with people who have experienced traumatic events. We have pathways and can sign-post to other helpful services such as counselling and refugee support organisations.

Our appointments are long enough to give us time to respond to complex needs. We are able to work with people over several appointments according to their individual needs before discharging them to the care of a GP practice.

Access to our service is by referral. Referrals are accepted from health practitioners, housing providers, social workers and agencies working with asylum seekers and refugees.

Self-referrals can also be made, either by visiting our reception desk at Montpelier Health Centre and leaving your contact details, or by phoning us on 0300 124 6875 – if we are not available to take your call please leave us an answerphone message. We can reply by phone using an interpreter if necessary and we will send you a letter to confirm your appointment details with a map of where we are located.

We hold clinics on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 8.30am and 12.30pm.

Waiting times for this service are available on our waiting times page.