§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the demands on the health service arising from Kosovar refugees arriving in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement; [83737]
(2) what percentage of Kosovar refugees he estimates will need NHS (a) primary care and (b) hospital treatment within one month of arrival; [83738]
(3) if he will meet the Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss what account should be taken of existing health authority waiting lists in determining where Kosovar refugees are placed. [83739]
§ Mr. HuttonMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in the House on 5 May 1999,Official Report, columns 943, that the United Kingdom is prepared to give temporary protection to several thousand refugees from Kosovo. The National Health Service is expected to play its part in preparing for this and stands ready to do what is necessary to identify refugees' health problems and provide appropriate treatment.
For the majority of refugees, individual health problems are not known until they are examined, either on arrival or soon afterwards. All refugees are being registered with a general practitioner as a matter of course. So far, more than 900 people have arrived in the UK, and experience suggests that many of those still to come will have primary healthcare needs, either now or in the near future and a few will need hospital treatment.
318WWe have also agreed to accept a small number of priority medical cases, with their immediate family members, who meet the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' criteria for medical evacuation. No such cases have been received so far. We anticipate that careful selection of UK hospitals for any priority patients that do come will ensure that any impact on existing NHS waiting lists is kept to a minimum.