Centre provides care for asylum seekers

The project has been funded for three years

A pilot project to provide health care for asylum seekers has opened in Birmingham.

More than 100 people have registered for the scheme, based at the Heart of Birmingham's Primary Care Trust clinic in Ladywood.

The centre has been set up to help asylum seekers who are unable to register with their local GP surgery.

Andrew Moody, the project's development manager, said a lot of the people registering for the scheme had been tortured.

Vulnerable people

"In one morning's clinic, eight of the 12 patients seen by our staff were still suffering from the physical and mental scars of torture in their own country," he said.

"They are vulnerable people who have been traumatised and have complex needs which other GPs sometimes find it difficult to cope with on top of their existing workload."

Two GPs work part time at the centre as well as specialist nurse.

The Department of Health's personal medical service scheme has funded the centre for three years.