Ms Emilia Marchelewska:

A good systemic example of that co-operation would be between the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team, UKTAT, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The HSE has seconded a staff member to work with UCTAT to respond to people in medical priority situations, so there is one staff member who looks after the needs of Ukrainians who may be assigned to medical priority groups such as heavily pregnant or with a major disability, including a major intellectual disability. These solutions can be in place, and maybe some of the severe cases could be caught in the safety net. On the ground, however, we all work through that person-centred approach.

I remember a client who contacted us in a desperate state. He had a very thick folder of evidence of both his mental health and physical needs. He was granted status to stay in the country. However, he was left in emergency accommodation. He had a mobility issue, but he was placed on the third floor. He could not walk very much. He forgot about taking his medication. He was by himself here. At the point we met him, he did not have a medical card, he did not have a GP and he was asking for support with his mental health issues. He had already been seen by Safetynet doctors and then by Spirasi. He had documentation from Spirasi. He was in touch with the services, but the basics were not there. We supported him with access to health services. We also supported him with a family reunification case so his wife could come in and support him with his health needs. We also supported him in getting alternative accommodation that would be more suitable to his health needs mobility-wise. He also had diabetes, so the food he was receiving was sometimes not suitable. That is an example of how it looks on the ground.