Delayed Dispersal

If the health team carrying out health screens within initial accommodation believe that dispersal should be delayed due to medical reasons a written notification should be made to the UK Border Agency.

Where the UK Border Agency is notified, and the health condition of the individual is confirmed in writing, consideration must be given to delaying dispersal. UKBA Policy Bulletins identify the following circumstances:

If a person has HIV/AIDS and a planned continuity of care, including suitable accommodation, is not yet in place

  • If a person is diagnosed with contagious TB, dispersal should be delayed and treatment should be carried out locally under the supervision of a TB specialist until no longer contagious
  • Severe mental health problems resulting in a high risk of harm to self or others, or other acute mental health needs. With treatment, some patients will become well enough to travel and be dispersed. Their care should be transferred to their new local area within a care programme approach framework
  • Where a person is pregnant the UK Border Agency will take into account advice received from the applicant’s GP, Midwife and/or Obstetrician as to whether they are fit to travel
  • Where somebody is awaiting assessment from the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture or if the Medical Foundation has advised particular treatment from a specific centre
  • Where surgery has been booked to take place within a month or where a person is recovering from an operation. Dispersal should not take place until the individual has been medically assessed as fit to travel
  • Where it is necessary for a person to have continuity of care, for example where a person is undergoing kidney dialysis
  • Where a particular medical treatment is ongoing and only available in the area where the asylum seeker is living

Dispersal may also be delayed on educational grounds:

  • Dispersal will be temporarily deferred where an asylum seeker has a dependant child in their household who has started the final school or college year leading up to their GCSE, AS or A-level exams (or their equivalents), provided they have been enrolled at that school or college for a significant part of the previous school or college year. Absent exceptional circumstances, a significant part of a school year will be taken to be a school term.

Useful Links

Asylum Support Tribunal

CSIP: Care Programme Approach

DH: Caring for dispersed asylum seekers: resource pack

Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

NASS Policy Bulletin 85

National AIDS Trust: Dispersal

NHS and Community Care Act 1990

UKBA Dispersal Guidelines

Young Carers: Rights