The Care Quality Commission
  • Prison healthcare

Archived: Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre

Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 1FD

Provided and run by:
G4S Health Services (UK) Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

1 May -2 May 2018

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This inspection was a desk based focused inspection. It was carried out in May 2018 to confirm that the provider had completed their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that we identified in our previous inspection between 12 and 15 June 2017. The June 2017 comprehensive inspection was carried out in partnership with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions in accordance with our published methodology.

The joint inspection report can be found at:

This report covers our findings in relation to those aspects detailed in the Requirement Notice issued to G4S Health Services (UK) Limited (G4S).

We do not currently rate services provided in immigration removal centres. Our key findings were as follows:

  • The provider had made improvements to ensure all staff worked within the scope of their professional qualifications, competence, skills and experience.
  • The doctor was immediately stopped from working at Yarl’s Wood and a full investigation conducted.
  • The process of checking professional registrations, insurance and vetting now follows a two-stage assurance process.
  • A pharmacy technician is now employed full-time and a pharmacist attends 4 hours weekly to provide oversite of the management of medicines.

The action taken by the provider ensured that patients were receiving safe and effective treatment

21 & 22 March 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On 21 and 22 March 2016 we undertook a focused inspection to check that the service had met the requirements of the Requirement Notices issued on 26 August 2015. At this inspection we found that the provider had taken necessary action to satisfy the Notices.

Our key findings were:

  • The arrangements to manage the suitability of staffing, the prevention and control of infection, confidential information and to report and act on incidents had all been improved and were more effective in ensuring patient safety.

  • The arrangements for the safe and effective management of medication had significantly improved, promoting better outcomes for patients.

  • Staffing had been reviewed and, whilst recruitment was ongoing, the staffing profile was designed to better meet the needs of the centre population. Healthcare staff were supported to achieve and demonstrate appropriate clinical skills and knowledge.

  • Patients received appropriate and timely assessments of their health needs. New systems supported consistency of assessments and audits identified failings, which were addressed.

  • Patients had good access to an appropriate range of health services, designed to meet their needs. Care and treatment were supported by evidence-based clinical pathways and by effective partnership working.

  • Patients’ views about the service were consistently positive, a significant improvement from our 2015 inspection. Staff protected patients’ privacy and confidentiality and took steps to ensure effective communication. However, some important written materials were not readily available in patients’ preferred languages.

  • Local governance systems were effective in monitoring the safety and quality of the healthcare service. Staff were encouraged to learn from complaints, adverse events, patient feedback and clinical audit.