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<p>The Home Office takes the welfare and safety of people in its care very seriously
and we are committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable
people in detention.</p><p>The Home Office recognises that some groups of people can
be at particular risk of harm in immigration detention. This is the basis of the Adults
at Risk in Immigration Detention policy. In accordance with the policy, people considered
to be vulnerable, including those suffering from serious mental health conditions
and victims of torture, are detained only when the risk factors in their case are
outweighed by the immigration considerations.</p><p>People entering detention have
a medical screening undertaken by a nurse within two hours of their arrival at an
Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) which seeks to identify any immediate or long-term
healthcare risks. Subject to them providing consent, everyone detained in an IRC is
also given an appointment with a doctor for a physical and mental examination which
takes place within 24 hours of their arrival at the IRC.</p><p>Everyone in detention
also has access to a complete range of medical care throughout their period in an
IRC including primary care, dentistry, substance misuse treatment services, mental
health care and welfare services. Depending on the outcomes of the reception screening
and the doctor’s appointment, clinical pathways into other healthcare services such
as mental health or welfare services may be initiated.</p>
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