HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 cc1055-7W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the last 12 months who came to the UK

Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Dover
Year Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses
2002 7.5 FTE 0 3.25 FTE 0 0.05 FTE and 3 GPs on call 0.2 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE
2001 7.5 FTE 0 3.25 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 0 2 FTE 0
2000 7.5 FTE 0 3.75 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 0 2 FTE 0
1999 7.5 FTE 0 3.75 FTE 0 0.05 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0
1998 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0
1997 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 2 FTE 2 FTE 0

and resided for more than six months (a) received and (b) did not receive a medical screening on arrival at port of entry. [86742]

Ms Blears

Home Office statistics show that in 2001, the most recent year for which figures are available, 483,000 people subject to immigration control were granted leave at ports of entry in England to enter the United Kingdom for more than six months.

Long-standing policy is that any person subject to immigration control who:

  1. (i) mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for coming to the United Kingdom, or appears unwell; or
  2. (ii) is seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more and is at high risk of having been exposed to tuberculosis
should be referred by the immigration officer to a medical inspector.

Figures are not available on the number of people who meet one or both of the two criteria above, and statistics on the number of referrals to medical inspectors are not routinely collected from all ports of entry. However, four ports handled over 94 per cent. of entrants arriving in England in 2001 and seeking leave to enter the UK for six months or more. The health control units at those ports have provided the figures for referrals given in the table. In addition, for some visa nationals, medical referrals are made at the overseas post rather than the port of entry.

Port Entrants granted leave to enter for six months or more1 Referrals to medical inspectors2
Heathrow 343,000 141,072
Gatwick 57,500 6,101
Manchester 21,500 2,774
Dover (including Channel Tunnel) 32,700 265
Total for four ports 455,000 150,212
Note:
1 Data rounded to three significant figures.
Sources:
1 Home Office.
2 Health Control Units (includes a small number of referrals where entry was refused).

Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical staff were employed in each port medical unit in each of the last 10 years; and how many were(a) doctors and (b) nurses. [86744]

Ms Blears

We do not routinely collect data on staff in medical units at all ports of entry in England. However, four ports handled over 94 per cent. of entrants arriving in England in 2001 and seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more. The health control units at those ports have provided the figures in the table. These do not include figures for other support staff.

Heathrow Gatwick Manchester Dover
Year Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses
1996 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 3 FTE 2 FTE 0
1995 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 3 FTE 2 FTE 0
1994 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 4 FTE 2 FTE 0
1993 7.5 FTE 0 2.75 FTE 0 0.01 FTE 4 FTE 2 FTE 0

Note:

FTE—full time equivalents