General Practitioners are being recruited with salaries of up to £135,000 per year to deliver medical care to foreign national offenders and illegal migrants held in UK immigration detention facilities. The taxpayer-funded roles, advertised by a private healthcare provider on behalf of the Home Office, have ignited a fierce political debate over the treatment of individuals facing deportation.
High-Paying Role in Heathrow Detention Centre
The position, based at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), is being offered by the Practice Plus Group. The contractor is seeking a GP to work a 40-hour week for an annual salary equivalent to £11,250 per month. This sum stands in stark contrast to the average NHS GP salary, which is approximately £79,000 a year.
The job advertisement calls for a doctor to deliver what it terms "first-class healthcare to a diverse patient population." It states that the role will involve clinical sessions, inpatient ward rounds, and blood screening. The advert highlights that the work will develop expertise in areas not commonly encountered in standard GP practices or A&E departments.
"Rewarding" Work with Vulnerable Residents
Promotional material for the role encourages potential applicants to avoid letting stereotypes deter them from working with foreign criminals and illegal immigrants. A principal pharmacist at the Heathrow IRC commented on the nature of the work, stating the residents are vulnerable and deserve a high standard of care.
"Many don’t have access to medical records or even speak English, so every day brings new challenges," the pharmacist said. "But that’s what makes the job so rewarding. It requires emotional intelligence and empathy." The advert also notes that ideal candidates would have some experience with patients who have substance misuse needs.
Political Backlash and Home Office Response
The revelation of the six-figure salary has prompted strong criticism from political figures. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned what he called a "red carpet treatment" for potential foreign criminals. He linked the policy to Channel crossings, stating, "No wonder illegal immigrants from all over Europe flood across the English Channel when the Government spends billions of pounds of our money to cosset them."
In response, a Home Office spokesman clarified, "We do not directly fund these roles." The spokesman emphasised the government's broader reforms to tackle illegal migration, aiming to make Britain a less attractive destination and to ease removals. The Home Office claims to have already returned nearly 50,000 people without the right to remain, delivering millions in savings.
Current rules mandate that detained migrants receive the same "range and quality" of NHS-standard treatment available to the public. The Practice Plus Group was contacted for comment regarding the recruitment drive.
