HL Deb 19 March 1997 vol 579 c72WA
The Earl of Sandwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to expand the present medical facilities, including the number of referrals, for asylum seekers detained at Campsfield House, Oxford; and

Whether they are satisfied with the current arrangements to sub-contract medical services at Campsfield House from Group 4 to other service providers; and

Whether they have any monitoring programme at the Home Office to assess the quality of medical services at Campsfield House and the number of referrals per detainee; and, if so, what have been the results of this assessment.

Baroness Blatch

With advice from the Director of Public Health in the Oxfordshire Health Authority, a revised specification for provision of medical services at Campsfield House has been prepared, and these new arrangements took effect on 1 March.

The health services at Campsfield House are comparable with those provided for Oxfordshire residents, taking into account the specific circumstances of detainees. Detainees are referred to specialists as and when required on medical grounds. The decision to refer detainees on is taken by the doctor treating them. Standards for all services provided at Campsfield House are closely monitored.