Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre Statement

“I am very grateful for this report we commissioned from HMCIP into healthcare at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre. Anne Owers recognised many strengths on which to build - healthcare staff sought to offer committed and caring treatment, nurses were experienced in primary care, a conscientious full-time locum doctor acting in the best interests of his patients; and a healthcare room at Yarl's Wood that was adequately equipped operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She recognised that detainees are usually seen and given a health assessment by a nurse within two hours of arriving.

“But the report makes recommendations about how the delivery of healthcare, management arrangements and the provision of mental healthcare at Yarl's Wood can be better still. I take these recommendations very seriously and an action plan responding in detail to them is currently being drawn up.

“The standard of healthcare at Home Office removal centres is an important issue and the health of all detainees is monitored closely. This includes access to primary and secondary medical facilities, including psychiatric professionals.

“Healthcare professionals who work in the Detention Estate are required to report cases where it is considered that a person's health is being affected by detention. Where there is medical evidence that intended actions would have an adverse effect on the health of any detainee, their case is considered fully in the light of that evidence.

“The Healthcare Commission is currently in the process of registering healthcare providers in contracted-out removal centres, which will bring these providers within the Commission's standards, audit and complaints remit."