ASYLUM seekers on Teesside will soon have their own doctor's surgery.
Haven Medical Practice has been set up by Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust and will help deal with the complex health problems of refugees new to the North-East.
The surgery will concentrate on dealing with newly arrived foreign nationals, instead of taking asylum seekers already registered with local GPs.
Staff have already been appointed to the surgery, including a specialist nurse, reception staff, practice manager and full-time GP Dr Helen Sykes.
Dr Sykes said: "It must be very hard for asylum seekers first coming into this country, often not understanding our language, culture, customs and health system and having very real health needs.
"We want to address these quickly and help them integrate into the local community as effectively as possible."
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