Second specialist surgery for asylum-seekers to be set up

Last month, the Haven Medical Practice became the first surgery of its kind in the North-East when it opened its doors to new asylum-seekers in Middlesbrough.

Now, a similar centre is to open in the Stockton area.

The Haven practice was set up to relieve pressure on other family doctors in Middlesbrough, an area which has a severe shortage of GPs.

The second practice geared towards the sometimes challenging health needs of asylum-seekers will open early next month.

Most of the funding for the new practices is expected to come from the Department of Health.

The aim is to direct new asylum-seekers to the practices so they can be treated by specialists.

Once the refugees have settled in and their immediate health needs have been met, they will be expected to register with local GPs.

Pauline Williams, spokeswoman for North Tees Primary Care Trust, said: "I can confirm there are plans to establish a GP practice in the Stockton area specifically for refugees. It will form part of the initial assessment of refugees as they arrive in the area."

A GP has been appointed to the new specialist position and the positions of support staff, including two receptionists and a practice nurse, are being advertised.

News that a second specialist surgery for asylum-seekers is to open on Teesside was welcomed by local doctors.

Dr John Canning, a Middlesbrough family doctor who sits on the national GP committee of the British Medical Association, said: "It takes pressure off mainstream GPs, who have some of the longest patient lists in the country."

Dr Canning said new practices would help because asylum-seekers typically presented a range of complex problems, including difficulties of communication. "It is very time-consuming seeing asylum-seeking patients," he said.

Dr Helen Sykes, who runs the Haven practice, has said the aim is to address the needs of new refugees and help them integrate into the local community as effectively as possible.