The government has suspended the controversial practice of NHS Digital sharing patients' details with the Home Office for immigration enforcement, marking a significant U-turn on a key element of the 'hostile environment' policy. The decision, announced by minister Margot James during a debate on the data protection bill, follows sustained pressure from MPs, doctors, and health charities who warned the arrangement deterred vulnerable people from seeking medical care.
Under the suspended memorandum of understanding, NHS Digital had shared details of around 3,000 patients last year, including information from GP and hospital appointments, to allow the Home Office to check immigration status. James confirmed the suspension takes effect immediately, with future data-sharing limited to tracing individuals being considered for deportation after committing serious crimes, such as those sentenced to 12 months or more in prison.
The U-turn was prompted by an amendment tabled by Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston and Labour MP Paul Williams, who is also a GP. Williams welcomed the change, stating: 'NHS information should only be shared in the event of a conviction or an investigation for a serious crime, not to create a hostile environment where people are afraid to go to their GPs.' The Commons health and social care select committee had twice called for the practice to stop, citing evidence of pregnant women avoiding antenatal care and a migrant domestic worker dying after failing to seek treatment for a persistent cough.
Charities including Doctors of the World and the National Aids Trust praised the suspension but expressed concern over the 'vague' definition of serious crimes that will still allow data requests. Liberty, the civil rights group, also warned that the Home Office's criteria remained unclear. Critics had argued that the data-sharing risked turning NHS staff into de facto immigration officers and undermined patient trust.
The Home Office stated that the changes follow 'careful consideration of the concerns raised by the health and social care select committee' and that it remains committed to tackling illegal immigration through other investigative measures. The U-turn comes amid growing unease over the hostile environment policy's impact on public health and civil liberties.
