Data Insight: Supporting the Migrant Integration Framework for Wales - examining GP registrations and activity by migrant status

This Data Insight, originally published by ADR Wales, explores GP registration by migrants using routinely collected administrative, health, and survey data. This analysis was carried out to support the development of the Welsh Government’s Migrant Integration Framework.

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Summary

The Migrant Integration Framework for Wales was published in December 2023 and plays a key part in the Welsh Government’s commitment to becoming a Nation of Sanctuary. The focus of the Nation of Sanctuary work is on preventing the most harmful impacts experienced by sanctuary seekers, such as homelessness, destitution, exploitation, unemployment, and mental ill-health, thereby supporting displaced people to integrate into Welsh communities and call Wales their home. The framework highlights recommended approaches to support integration and aims to measure the integration of migrants in Wales.

Throughout 2024, the framework was implemented across Wales. The next stage in its development is a comprehensive data mapping and collection exercise to ensure that as much data as possible is available to produce a baseline dataset for the indicators.

One of these indicators is the percentage of individuals registered with a GP by migrant status. Understanding GP registrations and activity among migrants is important, as timely, high-quality health and social care services are essential for promoting the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Access to these services, particularly when tailored to meet migrants’ diverse needs, can support both well-being and inclusion.

The following study objectives were set out to contribute to the GP registration indicator:

1. What is the percentage of GP registrations in Wales at a given point in the year that are associated with migrants?
2. What is the percentage of GP appointments in Wales in a given year that are attended by migrants?
3. Do these figures vary according to the length of time migrants are resident in the UK?

This Data Insight has been produced by the ADR Wales Social Justice research team and forms part of the ongoing ADR Wales programme of work.

What we found

The data tables in the Annex (see full publication) summarise GP registrations and activity by migrant status between 2014 and 2023 (Tables 1–6).

Tables 1 and 2 show the results for objective one. Most registered patients in Wales were UK-born, with 4.46–6.36% of individuals born elsewhere over the study period. Among migrants, those born in Europe were the largest group, followed by Asia, with the smallest proportion born in South America.

Tables 3 and 4 provide results for objective two. In 2023, there were 181,380,307 recorded GP events, equating to 73.6 events per person-year for UK-born individuals, 60.5 for those born elsewhere, and 55.8 for those without linkable Census data. Among migrants in 2023, individuals born in North America had the highest GP activity rate (69.0), while those born in Oceania had the lowest (49.1).

Tables 5 and 6 show the results for objective three. Across all years, a general trend emerged: the longer someone had been registered with a GP, the higher their rate of GP activity—particularly among those born outside the UK. For UK-born individuals, the pattern was less consistent; in fact, those registered for less than a year often had higher GP activity than those registered for 1–2 or 3–5 years. Among individuals registered for at least six years, activity levels were similar regardless of place of birth (71.8–77.8 events per person-year in 2023). However, among those registered for less than a year, UK-born individuals had much higher GP activity than those born elsewhere (71.9 vs 46.8 events per person-year in 2023) (Table 5).

Why it matters

This study used population-wide administrative, health, and survey data to enhance our ability to measure GP activity by migrant status in Wales.

We hope the findings will support further work to examine migrant integration in Wales and inform the continued development of the Welsh Government’s Migrant Integration Framework. In doing so, it contributes to evidence-based policymaking that supports all migrants in contributing fully to Welsh life - for the benefit of everyone.