Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to help mitigate the risks posed to local people by asylum seekers with severe mental health issues in Bournemouth East constituency.

The rise in the number of small boat crossings has placed significant pressures on local authorities and the asylum system.

We take the safety and welfare of those in our care seriously and the Home Office has robust safeguarding procedures in place to ensure those in our accommodation are as safe and supported as possible as we seek urgent placements with a local authority.

Our providers are aware of the requirement to ensure that all service users are able to register with a local GP. During the induction process, which is carried out in multiple languages via the use of a translation service, the medical registration process is explained to all residents. This information is also displayed throughout the hotel. Staff at the hotel will support all residents to register with a GP practice. This extends to arranging appointments and transport to and from appointments if that is required. In the event of a medical situation that requires immediate attention, staff support by contacting 111 or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone granted asylum, temporary protection or humanitarian protection under the Immigration Rules of section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 is recognised as a refugee and able to access all health care services, including mental health care services, exempt from charges.

We are committed to work to improve the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers, including through work with representatives from DHSC, National Health Service, Devolved Administrations and Non-Governmental Organisations to consider approaches to mental health support. The Government will also continue to use our safeguarding networks to identify the most vulnerable users of the asylum system and engage with the appropriate statutory agencies to provide the support they need.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has produced a Migrant Health Guide, which is a free-to-use, online resource designed to support primary care practitioners in caring for patients who have come to the UK from overseas. It includes information on asylum seekers entitlement to the NHS, guidance for assessing new patients, tailored health information specific to over 100 countries of origin and guidance on a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases and health issues.