Psychiatric fitness to fly assessments for removal cases
Our consultant psychiatrists assess whether your client can be removed safely, and with what safeguards.
- CV, quotation and availability
- Legal aid accepted
- Assessment in detention or by video
- Urgent cases prioritised
GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists · Assessments across the UK
Psychiatric opinions on fitness for removal
When removal directions are set, our consultant psychiatrists assess whether your client’s mental health makes them unfit to fly or to be removed, and what would make removal safer if it goes ahead.
The opinion covers the risks during escort and the journey, suicide and self-harm risk around removal, and whether a transfer to hospital should be considered.
Questions our psychiatrists answer
- Current mental state and diagnosis
- Fitness to fly and fitness to be removed
- Risk to your client or others during escort and the journey
- Suicide and self-harm risk before, during and after removal
- Medication, escorts and other safeguards that would be needed
- Whether a transfer to hospital should be considered
Removal and Article 3
If removal itself carries a real risk of suicide, the same evidence may support an Article 3 claim. See Article 3 and suicide risk reports.
Your expert
We propose a consultant psychiatrist with experience of risk around removal. Our experts are GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists who maintain professional indemnity cover.
What the opinion covers
The opinion deals with removal itself, not only the flight.
Mental state now
An up-to-date assessment of your client’s mental state and diagnosis.
Risk in transit
Risks during escort, any restraint and the flight, and how to reduce them.
Safeguards
The medication, escorts and handover arrangements the expert considers necessary.
A fitness to fly opinion before removal
Send us the case details and we will come back with the proposed expert’s CV, quotation and availability.
Common questions
Can a psychiatrist say my client is unfit to fly?
Yes. A consultant psychiatrist can give an opinion on whether your client’s mental health makes them unfit to fly or to be removed, and on the safeguards needed. The decision on removal rests with the Home Office.
How fast can you assess if removal directions are set?
Urgent and detention matters are prioritised, and we confirm the assessment date and report deadline before you instruct. No fixed turnaround is promised until we have reviewed the records, the complexity of the case and expert availability.
Will the report address escort and restraint?
Yes. The expert considers the risks during escort, any restraint and the journey, and how they could be reduced.
Can you assess my client in immigration detention?
Yes. Our experts assess clients in person or by secure video, including clients held in immigration detention, so please include your client’s location in the enquiry.
Do you accept legal aid?
Yes, we accept legally aided cases. We provide an itemised quotation and the proposed expert’s CV for your request to extend the disbursement limit or your prior authority application, or for prior approval from the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
Other immigration reports
Asylum appeals and fresh claims
Mental health, trauma and risk evidence for the First-tier Tribunal.
Article 3 and suicide risk
Diagnosis, treatment needs and risk at each stage of removal.
Deportation and Article 8
Illness, offending, risk and the effect of deportation.
Detention and Rule 35
Independent reports for detention reviews, bail and claims.
Trafficking and modern slavery
Trauma, disclosure and recovery evidence for NRM decisions.
Torture documentation
Psychological evidence of torture to the Istanbul Protocol.
Further reading
Instruct a psychiatrist before removal
Send us the case details and we will come back with the proposed expert’s CV, quotation and availability.