Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what audit procedures, if any, exist under the Detention Centre Rules 2001, or other detention centre rules, to monitor the preparation and presentation of medical records and discharge summaries to detainees on release or unescorted removal; if such procedures exist, what were the results of the audit or audits in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available; and if such procedures do not exist, whether they plan to take steps to put such procedures in place.

Operating Standards and contracts for service providers in the immigration detention estate require them to operate a schedule of self audit to include compliance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, Operating Standards and Detention Service Orders.

Since 1 September 2014 the preparation and presentation of medical records and discharge summaries to detainees on release or unescorted removal is the responsibility of service providers commissioned by NHS England. NHS England’s national specifications for healthcare commissioned in Immigration Removal Centres requires providers to have in place a programme of annual audit in line with their organisation’s clinical governance framework.

The first annual audits under the new arrangements have not yet taken place.