Healthcare giant is at the centre of row over treatment of asylum seekers
BUPA has refuted claims it may be contracted to treat asylum seekers living in rural camps throughout the UK. The provider has been at the forefront of an ongoing debate over the Government's proposed plans to introduce private health care facilities to asylum seekers in accommodation centres.
Elaine Finch, spokesperson for the healthcare provider, said: 'There has been much misinterpretation made over a Government minister's plans for asylum seekers. BUPA has not been approached to take part in any scheme involving health care for asylum seekers, nor do we have any plans to do so.'
The company's denial comes after press speculation concerning the contents of Health Minister Lord Hunt's written answer regarding the healthcare facilities for asylum seekers.
In the paper, Lord Hunt stated: 'Onsite primary healthcare facilities will be provided at the proposed trial accommodation centres for asylum seekers. The intention is to minimise the impact which the accommodation centres will have on local GPs and other local health services.
'The onsite healthcare facilities will be provided under contract to the Home Office. Local general practitioners and other health services may be involved in delivery of these services. Alternatively, the onsite healthcare may be provided by other providers.'
Exactly which organisation have been approached is not currently known. It continued: 'Department of Health officials are having preliminary discussions about this with the relevant organisations in the areas concerned.'
Stephen Walker, director at Medical Insurance Services, said enlisting the services of private healthcare providers would be a good move forward.
'It is not a question of the NHS versus the private healthcare system. It is a question of the need for a healthcare service for asylum seekers. The Government cannot afford to stretch an already over-stretched system,' he said.
Walker added the issue that should be debated is not the involvement of the private sector, but the inadequacies of the NHS.
'The announcement highlights the shortcomings and limitations of our National Health Service, and clearly indicates there is a call for restructuring and improvement. Asylum seekers need to have healthcare provision, and if the NHS cannot provide that without it being detrimental to the local communities, then the proposed plan is a fairly logical solution,' he said.
