Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that treatment is provided to detainees held in immigration removal centres who are (a) self-harming and (b) experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

People detained in immigration removal centres (IRCs) should receive an equivalent range and quality of treatment and services for their health needs as people in the community, according to their clinical needs.

Health care in IRCs in England is commissioned by NHS England, who only commission evidence-based treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE provides guidance on the treatment of people who self-harm, which healthcare professionals in IRCs are expected to take into account. NICE guidance is available at:

http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/self-harm

NICE also provides detailed guidance on treating post-traumatic stress disorder, which health professionals in IRCs should take into account when deciding on treatment. This guidance is available at:

http://guidance.nice.org.uk/C26