Centres for asylum seekers may ease GP pressure

Controversial plans for trial accommodation centres for asylum seekers, which would provide full health, education and language provision, were discussed in the second reading of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill last week.Home secretary David Blunkett said the experiment would see if it might ease the pressure on GPs with large asylum seeker populations.The British Medical Association has questioned what the medical facilities will be, how they will be staffed, and what role if any PCTs will have in running them. It also welcomes planned guidelines for health professionals working with asylum seekers.