Doctors turn away refugees, conference told

Refugees and people seeking asylum in Britain are being turned away by doctors who fear that they will be “overwhelmed” with demanding and time consuming patients, said experts at a conference organised in London by Amnesty International.

The experts called for more resources to train healthcare workers, including receptionists and auxiliary staff, and to stamp out the myths, stigma, and racism that surround refugees and asylum seekers and that can lead to physical and mental health problems.

The health of refugees can deteriorate rapidly once they arrive in Britain, said Dr Angela Burnett, a former east London GP who now …