A DOCTOR from the region has urged medics to challenge attempts to exclude failed aslyum seekers from NHS treatment.

Dr Paul Williams, writing in today's British Medical Journal, argues that it is "unethical" to deny failed asylum seekers access to NHS care.

New Government rules state that failed asylum seekers are not entitled to free NHS treatment from the day their asylum claim failed.

But Dr Williams, who looks after about 600 refugees at his practice in Stockton, says that to systematically deny health care is "unnecessary, unethical and impractical".

Even though the immigration system has passed judgement on these people, the NHS should not, he adds.

Dr Williams says there is no hard evidence that health tourism exists, and plenty of evidence that failed asylum seekers are desperate and needy, and have physical and psychological needs.

"Healthcare professionals should not allow denial of care to failed asylum seekers to be used as a tool by which the Government can beat these already broken people."

The Stockton GP says he regularly sees people who have been imprisoned, tortured or raped but because many have psychological rather than physical scars, their stories are not believed.

"The culture of disbelief and cynicism within the system places intimidating and often insurmountable barriers in the path towards being granted status," he writes.

His practice is one of two specialist primary care centres established in the region to provide medical services for refugees in the region.

The other is in Middlesbrough and also has about 600 patients on its books.