I have just been moved to Stoke on Trent. I went to register with a GP but they told me that they didn't take asylum seekers. What are my rights? Has anyone else had this problem?
If you have recently arrived in Stoke-on-Trent as an asylum seeker through the NASS sytem, your accommodation provider should normally send your details through to the local NHS team so that they can allocate you a GP (General Practitioner). Unfortunately, this does not always happen -some NASS providers are better than others!
NHS Stoke-on-Trent, the local NHS body that provides or commissions health services for all the residents of Stoke-on-Trent has a dedicated Asylum Health Team based at the Shelton Primary Care Centre (very close to Stoke-on-Trent College, Cauldon campus, next to the canal - it's a big new buiding). They will take your details and then allocate a GP close to where you live. You can visit them at:
Asylum Health Team
Shelton Primary Care Centre
Norfolk Street
Shelton
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 4PB
When you visit, just ask the receptionist for the Asylum Health Team. They are very busy at the moment as they are helping with the Swine Flu epidemic, so you might want to phone them first. Their number is 01782 222870.
All asylum seekers are entitled to primary care, this includes GP access and A&E access. If you want to find out more, visit the Department of Health website, it has a leaflet - 'Introduction to the National Health Service' - the leaflet is available in lots of different languages - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...
Hi,
I recently did this myself. First of all, you need an NHS number. Then you need to go to NHS.co.uk and then click on "Find and Choose Services", then "GPs" and then you need ti type in your postcode and a list of the nearest surgeries will come up. Then you need to ring one of them up and see if they have space. Some might be full but if you ring other ones in the area you will get one which has space and you can register with them.
Hello this is just to add to the person's comment above. You will only have an NHS number if you have been registered for a GP in this country before. So if you have just arrived then you won't have an NHS number. In that case, what you need to do is pretty much the same - go to NHS.co.uk and select "find a GP" and then put in your postcode and the list of nearby surgeries will come up. When you phone you need to say that you are previously unregistered and don't yet have an NHS number. They will tell you that you'll need to bring in various documents that you got when you arrived - to show you are an asylum seeker and then when you do that you can register at the surgery. As soon as you're registered you can see a GP and within 3-6 months you will have an NHS card.
Registering with a Doctor in Stoke
Anonymous — Fri, 07/24/2009 - 14:21Hi,
If you have recently arrived in Stoke-on-Trent as an asylum seeker through the NASS sytem, your accommodation provider should normally send your details through to the local NHS team so that they can allocate you a GP (General Practitioner). Unfortunately, this does not always happen -some NASS providers are better than others!
NHS Stoke-on-Trent, the local NHS body that provides or commissions health services for all the residents of Stoke-on-Trent has a dedicated Asylum Health Team based at the Shelton Primary Care Centre (very close to Stoke-on-Trent College, Cauldon campus, next to the canal - it's a big new buiding). They will take your details and then allocate a GP close to where you live. You can visit them at:
Asylum Health Team
Shelton Primary Care Centre
Norfolk Street
Shelton
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 4PB
When you visit, just ask the receptionist for the Asylum Health Team. They are very busy at the moment as they are helping with the Swine Flu epidemic, so you might want to phone them first. Their number is 01782 222870.
All asylum seekers are entitled to primary care, this includes GP access and A&E access. If you want to find out more, visit the Department of Health website, it has a leaflet - 'Introduction to the National Health Service' - the leaflet is available in lots of different languages - http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...
The Department of Health also produce a very useful table setting out all the services that asylum seekers (at whatever stage of the application process) are entitled to. You can find it at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/International/AsylumseekersAndrefugee...
My girl friend works as a hospital doctor, she always says to me - if in doubt, get it checked out!
Good Luck!
Yours
Mr. Housing & Hurdles
Getting a GP
Anonymous — Wed, 01/13/2010 - 14:46Hi,
I recently did this myself. First of all, you need an NHS number. Then you need to go to NHS.co.uk and then click on "Find and Choose Services", then "GPs" and then you need ti type in your postcode and a list of the nearest surgeries will come up. Then you need to ring one of them up and see if they have space. Some might be full but if you ring other ones in the area you will get one which has space and you can register with them.
Good luck - get well soon!
GP - I don't have an NHS number
Anonymous — Wed, 01/13/2010 - 14:59Hello this is just to add to the person's comment above. You will only have an NHS number if you have been registered for a GP in this country before. So if you have just arrived then you won't have an NHS number. In that case, what you need to do is pretty much the same - go to NHS.co.uk and select "find a GP" and then put in your postcode and the list of nearby surgeries will come up. When you phone you need to say that you are previously unregistered and don't yet have an NHS number. They will tell you that you'll need to bring in various documents that you got when you arrived - to show you are an asylum seeker and then when you do that you can register at the surgery. As soon as you're registered you can see a GP and within 3-6 months you will have an NHS card.