Guidance

Healthcare when leaving an immigration removal centre: guidance for detainees

Healthcare you’re entitled to if you’re moving into the community in England.

Documents

Details

This guidance explains how to access healthcare after you leave an immigration removal centre (IRC) if you are not ordinarily resident in the UK.

It sets out:

  • how to register for healthcare
  • what you need to pay for
  • how to continue treatment you have started in an IRC
Published 4 July 2019
Last updated 6 August 2019 + show all updates
  1. Updates to wording have been made to provide clarity in the following sections: 'Treatment at sexual health services', 'Drug and alcohol misuse treatment services', 'Cancer screening', 'Continuing mental health treatment after you leave an IRC'. The section 'If you are not eligible for free treatment, but are unable to pay' has been amended to outline what may happen if chargeable patients do not pay.

  2. Updates made include: added link to NHS advice on healthcare charges for overseas visitors, added a new section for exempt causes, and small updates have been made to wording throughout the guidance to provide clarity.

  3. First published.