"We believe detention is harmful to children’s health and well-being, and children who are ill should never be detained. The particular areas of concern are: the recording and availability of patient information; provision of follow-up care; delivery of immunisations; inadequacy of clinical care; poor care provided to children and adults with mental health needs; and consideration before removal of healthcare needs thereafter.
 
Our audit of health records at Yarl’s Wood found outcomes to be below the standard we would expect to be provided by the National Health Service (NHS). Children’s physical and mental health rarely appears to inform the decision to maintain detention. We found that children who had serious illnesses such as Sickle Cell Anaemia, or whose condition deteriorated in detention, remained detained. There is an urgent need to address the provision of mental health services and support for children and their parents. The preventative healthcare arrangements prior to removal, for example immunisations and the provision of malaria prophylaxis, were found to be so inadequate as to endanger children’s health.  "

Executive Summary

Full report