Hi,

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