Home Office still using NHS patient data for immigration enforcement despite suggesting it would end practice
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Home Office is obtaining patient data from the NHS and using it for immigration enforcement purposes, despite suggesting last year that this form of data-sharing would no longer take place. A report by the chief inspector of borders reveals immigration enforcement teams are using hospital records containing data on migrants with an outstanding debt to the NHS of £500 or more. The report found there was little engagement with relevant NHS trusts about the debtor data, and that a "low" number of trusts made use of the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement Checking and Advisory Service. A Home Office spokesperson said: “When overseas migrants incur a debt to the NHS of £500 or more, their future immigration applications may be refused until the debt is settled.
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