New Service for Migrant Community Launched in Great Yarmouth

Posted on | July 7, 2010 | No Comments

A new surgery based programme aims to improve access for the migrant community.

NORCAS has launched a new regular service at the Nelson Medical Centre in Great
Yarmouth, which offers support to those from the local migrant community who are affected
by addictive behaviour.

NORCAS has operated a specialist migrant outreach programme in the town, following
research in 2007 which showed that there were a number of barriers to foreign nationals
living in the area accessing support services.

NORCAS Migrant Link Worker, Emilia Shurmur, said: “The Nelson Medical Centre was
the venue of choice for our new service as it was identified as having the highest number
of foreign patients on its books, giving NORCAS the best opportunity to access migrant
workers in the area.”

Emilia offers substance misuse support and advocacy services. She speaks Portuguese,
English and Spanish, but works with service users from many nationalities enlisting the help
of another interpreter from Intran, where necessary.

The new service takes place every other Friday at the surgery and takes referrals from the
GP’s.

The NORCAS migrant outreach scheme is understood to be the only service of its kind in
Great Yarmouth.