Health Fears As GP Surgeries Refuse Refugees

Some GP surgeries are refusing to register asylum seekers and refugees - even though they are eligible for treatment under NHS guidelines, according to a charity.

Two-fifths of patients that Doctors of the World attempted to register were refused at GP surgeries in England.

The vast majority of asylum seekers and refugees were rejected because they did not have ID or a proof of address, but these documents are not legally required to sign up for primary healthcare.

Meanwhile, 13% were turned away specifically because of their immigration status.

At a drop-in clinic for vulnerable people in east London run by Doctors of the World, Sky News met Sanjeevan - a Sri Lankan asylum seeker who was refused registration at his local surgery.

He made the four-hour round-trip to be seen by one of the charity's volunteer GPs.

"I was very worried, I had so much pain and really needed medical help," Sanjeevan said.

"I showed my asylum letter but they said they couldn't register me because the letter had no address."

The Royal College of GPs says the problem is more about paperwork than discrimination.

Dr Steve Mowle told us: "There are complicated rules around patients, many receptionists are trained that they have to have various proof of identity."

"I don't think GPs are sitting there thinking 'let's block care to refugees', I think it's the complexity of what's going on in reception and I think our receptionists need support."

Primary care in England is free to almost everyone, and GP surgeries are crucial to ease pressure on A&E departments and prevent the spread of disease.

Tuberculosis expert Dr Al Story thinks the situation poses a real risk to public health.

He said: "If people get turned away from primary care and they are symptomatic and they could have tuberculosis, the consequences of that is transmission in the community, so it's in all our interests to diagnose TB early."

Doctors of the World has now helped Sanjeevan sign up with his local surgery.

Now, GPs across England are under pressure to ensure frontline staff understand exactly what the rules are - and register all eligible patients.