UK asylum seekers to be banned from taking taxis to medical appointments

The GuardianSaturday, November 29, 2025 at 11:09:06 AM
UK asylum seekers to be banned from taking taxis to medical appointments
  • The UK government has announced that asylum seekers will be prohibited from using taxis for medical appointments, a decision stemming from the Home Office's annual expenditure of approximately £15.8 million on taxi services. Starting in February, these individuals will be required to utilize alternative transportation, such as buses, regardless of the urgency of their medical needs.
  • This policy change is part of a broader effort to reduce government spending on asylum-related services, which has raised concerns about the accessibility of healthcare for vulnerable populations who may already face significant barriers in the system.
  • The ban on taxi use for medical appointments reflects ongoing tensions in the UK's immigration policies, which have seen increasing restrictions and scrutiny. This shift occurs alongside reports of excessive restraint in immigration detention centers and the plight of long-term asylum seekers, highlighting systemic issues in the treatment of migrants and the challenges they face in navigating the UK's asylum system.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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