Guidance

Receiving healthcare when you leave an immigration removal centre

Updated 6 August 2019

You will be able to access healthcare after you leave an immigration removal centre (IRC), but it may not be free. There may be times where you will be charged for services.

The NHS is available free of charge to people who are ordinarily resident in the UK. You are ordinarily resident if you have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK when you leave an IRC.

If you’re not ordinarily resident in the UK, you can still register with a GP free of charge, but you may need to pay for some treatments and services.

Free treatments and services

Free treatments and services include:

• A&E services
• diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
• diagnosis and treatment of certain infectious diseases
• family planning services, not including termination of pregnancy
• GP services

Seeing a doctor in England

Anyone can register to see a doctor (general practitioner (GP)) at a GP surgery free of charge and you do not need proof of address.

You can find your nearest GP using the NHS website.

You can register with a GP before you leave the IRC. The healthcare staff will help you to do this.

Who to speak to for healthcare information in England

The first person to speak to about health services is your GP.

Every hospital has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offering healthcare information. PALS can help you with health-related questions and help resolve concerns or problems when you’re using the NHS.

To find out about your nearest PALS, speak to your GP, hospital or call NHS 111.

Hospitals have staff who deal with arrangements for overseas patients. You can speak to them if you need hospital treatment when you leave an IRC. Ask to see an overseas visitor manager at the hospital reception. This service is free of charge.

Healthcare charges in England

The NHS website has information about healthcare costs in England that everyone has to pay, and also charges specifically for overseas visitors. You can get this information from:

• the IRC before you leave
• the GP surgery
• public libraries

The decision about whether you will be chargeable for your treatment is based on the rules about charging for NHS-provided services. These rules apply to all NHS contracted services, including hospitals, voluntary organisations and independent sector providers.

Free NHS prescriptions

If you are entitled to free prescriptions, your GP will give you a prescription so that you can get medication in a pharmacy.

NHS-funded dental and eye (optometry) treatment

If you are entitled to NHS-funded dental and eye treatment, these services will be free of charge. You can find more information on the NHS website, including to:

• find out who is entitled to free dental care on the NHS
• find out who is entitled to a free NHS sight test and NHS optical vouchers
• search for a dentist – when you’ve found a dentist, you can use their contact details to register with them
• find a local optician

Treatment at A&E, minor injuries units or walk-in centres

Anyone can receive emergency treatment, free of charge. Go to your nearest hospital for emergency treatment.

Treatment at sexual health services

Many sexual health clinics offer a drop-in service free of charge to all. Go to your nearest service or ask your GP for more information.

Many sexual health clinics offer a drop-in service free of charge.

Drug and alcohol misuse treatment services

Speak to your GP to find out about your nearest free service. If you need to be admitted for hospital treatment or residential rehabilitation there may be a charge, if you are chargeable for your NHS care.

Maternity care

If you are pregnant but not ordinarily resident, you can still receive maternity care, but you could be charged.

Maternity care will always be provided, even if you have not yet paid for that care.

Speak to your GP for more information.

Cancer screening

If you attend cancer screening while in the IRC and receive a confirmed diagnosis after you’ve been released, you may need to pay to receive further treatment if you are chargeable for your NHS care.

If you are part way through a course of treatment when you leave the IRC, that course of treatment may continue to be free of charge until it ends.

Exempt causes

There is no charge for treatment for conditions caused by:

• torture
• female genital mutilation (FGM)
• domestic violence
• sexual violence

Mental health care

You can receive mental health treatment from the NHS. Your GP can organise an assessment to help decide treatment options. You won’t be charged for continuing treatment that you already started in the IRC, or if the condition has been caused by:

• torture
• female genital mutilation (FGM)
• domestic violence
• sexual violence

If you are part way through a course of treatment when you leave the IRC, that course of treatment may continue to be free of charge until it ends.

Vaccinations for public health conditions

If you need a vaccination for one of the conditions covered by the public health exemption, this will be arranged by the healthcare team at the IRC before you leave. You will not need to pay for this.

If you received treatment for a public health condition but testing shows you are clear of the condition, you will not be expected to pay for the treatment. Diagnosis and treatment of a public health condition, even if tests show that you are free of that condition, is free for everyone.

You will need to pay for any vaccinations you receive that are not listed as a public health exemption.

If you are not eligible for free treatment, but are unable to pay

The NHS must always provide any treatment you need to keep you safe before you can reasonably be expected to leave the UK. After you have had the treatment, you will be advised of the cost and how to pay if you are able. You are likely to be given the option of setting up a repayment plan.

If you do not pay for treatment you have been charged for, and do not agree a repayment plan, your debt may be reported to the Home Office if it is over £500 and has been outstanding for over 2 months. This may affect a future immigration application.

If you are chargeable for your NHS care, you can only receive non-urgent treatment if you have paid for it in advance.

Ongoing treatment in England

A doctor will decide whether your treatment needs to continue after you are released. This will be communicated to your GP or hospital by the healthcare team at the IRC.

Healthcare staff at the IRC will forward your medical records to your GP when you are released.

Continuing mental health treatment after you leave an IRC

If you’ve been receiving treatment as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme within the IRC, you can continue to receive this support after you leave.

If you received support from mental health services in the IRC, your GP can refer you to get support from either your local community mental health team, or other secondary care mental health community services. If you are chargeable for your NHS care, some of these services may be chargeable.

If you received treatment under section 48 of the Mental Health Act or for serious mental illness in an IRC, you can continue treatment in a mental health service after you leave. Doctors in the IRC will arrange this before you leave, and you should also see a GP.

Seeing a doctor in Scotland

Registering with a doctor is free in Scotland. You can find out more information on registering with a GP in Scotland.

You can find more information on healthcare in Scotland at NHS Inform, or call 0800 224 488 between 8am and 10pm.

Seeing a doctor in Northern Ireland

You can register with a GP for free in Northern Ireland. You’ll need to pay for any care or treatment you receive, unless you are exempt.

You can find more information on registering with a GP and healthcare services in Northern Ireland on the NI Direct website.