The health and welfare of those in our care is of the utmost importance. The provision of 24-hour, seven-days-a-week healthcare in all immigration removal centres (IRCs) ensures that individuals held there have ready access to medical professionals and levels of primary care in line with individuals in the community, according to their clinical needs.

Detention Services Order (DSO) 06/2016 ‘Women in the detention estate’ sets out guidance for Home Office, supplier and healthcare staff on the care and management of women in immigration detention. The DSO ensures a consistent approach is taken by all centres that accommodate women, and that the female-specific needs of the population are met.

Victims of sexual or gender-based violence (including female genital mutilation) are covered by the adults at risk in immigration detention policy. Anyone who falls within the scope of the policy is regarded as unsuitable for detention unless the specific immigration circumstances in their case are considered to outweigh the vulnerability issues.

Healthcare in IRCs in England is commissioned by NHS England, who only commission evidence-based treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE provides guidance on the treatment of people who have suffered sexual or gender-based violence, which healthcare professionals in IRCs are expected to take into account. The revised Primary Care specification for IRCs acknowledges the importance of healthcare professionals delivering trauma informed interventions across the immigration detention estate.

The healthcare team at Dungavel, comprising registered nurses and NHS Scotland GPs, work to the standards set by ‘Equally Safe’, Scotland’s strategy to prevent and eradicate gender-based violence. In addition, all registered nurses at Dungavel are female and access to a female GP is available on request.

The Home Office reviewed the policy on removing the No Recourse to Public Funds condition in relation to race and other protected characteristics earlier this year. A Policy Equality Statement was published in April and placed on GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/880531/Policy_Equality_Statement__PES__21_April_2020.pdf

The Home Office has published its policy equality statement on the impact of the No Recourse to Public Fund (NRPF) policy on migrants on the 10-year human rights route. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-change-of-conditions-of-leave-to-allow-access-to-public-funds-if-your-circumstances-change.

The NRPF policy, which is based on the principle that migrants coming to the UK are expected to maintain and support themselves and their families without posing a burden on the UK’s welfare system. NRPF conditions were introduced in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Access to benefits and other publicly funded services reflects the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK and, in the main, only become available to migrants when they have become settled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain.

People on the 10-year human rights route can apply to have the condition lifted and other groups, such as refugees, are exempt from the condition.

The Home Office has published its policy equality statement on the impact of the No Recourse to Public Fund (NRPF) policy on migrants on the 10-year human rights route. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-change-of-conditions-of-leave-to-allow-access-to-public-funds-if-your-circumstances-change.

The NRPF policy, which is based on the principle that migrants coming to the UK are expected to maintain and support themselves and their families without posing a burden on the UK’s welfare system. NRPF conditions were introduced in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Access to benefits and other publicly funded services reflects the strength of a migrant’s connections to the UK and, in the main, only become available to migrants when they have become settled in the UK with indefinite leave to remain.

People on the 10-year human rights route can apply to have the condition lifted and other groups, such as refugees, are exempt from the condition.