£19m health contract for Gosport detention centre ‘three times’ local NHS spend per head
A £19 million contract has been put out to run healthcare inside a Gosport detention centre, in a deal that will cost residents three times as much per person per day as the average spent on their own NHS care.
NHS England South East is tendering for a single “prime provider” to run all on‑site health services for men held at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre.
This seven-and-a-half-year contract includes GP‑style services, mental health care, substance misuse support, and dentistry.
This package will cost between £18 and £20 a day for each detainee, based on the maximum contract value of £19,052,186, and the Home Office’s planned occupancy of 130 men, which will rise gradually to 600 people with failed asylum claims who are being returned to their country of origin.
By contrast, NHS allocations for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight show the health system receiving around £5.3 billion in 2026/27 to care for just over two million people. This equates to roughly £2,500 a year, or about £7 a day, for each resident.
This wider budget has to fund hospitals, community services, mental health, and primary care across the region, while the Haslar cost is for a specific package of care.
Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM, leader of Gosport Borough Council, said she expects NHS partners to show how they would recruit staff and run services without damaging existing healthcare for Gosport residents.
She added that, as more information emerged, she would keep talking to the agencies involved about public services, safety, infrastructure, and the wider community impact.
Cllr Huggins added: “I understand why some residents have concerns about the future role of the Haslar site and what it may mean for Gosport’s identity.
“At the same time, phase one of the development has implications for jobs, investment, and economic activity in the town. My role is to ensure the interests of Gosport residents remain at the centre of decision‑making.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Home Office said it takes its responsibility towards detained individuals’ health and welfare” seriously”, and providing appropriate facilities “reduces opportunities for delays, leading to swifter removals.”
They added: “NHS staff are treating more patients than ever before and the overall waiting list is now 403,000 lower than in June 2024 and 171,000 lower than a year ago.”
The closing date for the tender is July 10, and those interested can apply on the Government website.