East Sussex asylum seekers to register with local GPs under NHS plan

(EAST SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM) Asylum seekers due to be housed at the Crowborough army training camp will be registered with local GPs from November 2025, NHS and Home Office officials have confirmed, in a move designed to secure immediate access to primary healthcare for up to 600 people expected to stay at the site for as long as a year. The commitment covers routine GP registration, urgent care routes and onward referrals, and is being arranged ahead of arrivals to avoid delays once people are moved into the camp.

The plan follows months of preparation between health services, local authorities and police, who say they are working to manage both the health needs of new arrivals and any community concerns around the temporary accommodation programme.

“Asylum seekers placed in an army camp in East Sussex will be registered with local GPs,” the NHS confirmed, underscoring a core part of the arrangements that officials say is necessary to handle the scale and pace of transfers onto the site.

Under the process set out for East Sussex, GP registration for asylum seekers is free and does not require proof of address, identification or immigration status. Practices have been instructed not to refuse GP registration because someone lacks documents, a policy that NHS England says is important for people arriving with few possessions or paperwork. If a surgery is unable to take on new patients because it is full, asylum seekers can call NHS England on 0300 311 2233 for help finding another practice. The goal, health managers say, is to prevent gaps in basic care such as immunisations, management of long-term conditions and access to repeat prescriptions that can become urgent soon after arrival.

People registered with local GPs will be able to use free NHS primary care services, NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice, accident and emergency departments, urgent treatment centres, and sexual health clinics. Those who have an active asylum application or appeal are also entitled to all other NHS care free of charge and may be issued an HC2 certificate, which can cover the cost of prescriptions, dental treatment and other health expenses. Officials say the entitlements are being communicated to GP practices and local services to ensure consistent access and to avoid confusion for both staff and patients.

The Alliance for Better Care, which coordinates health support for asylum seekers in the region, is working with East Sussex practices to handle routine care and to arrange referrals for people with complex needs that require specialist support. The service currently supports more than 3,000 people, including those in temporary accommodation across Sussex and Surrey, and is expected to play a central role in triaging the new cohort at Crowborough. Managers say they will prioritise urgent appointments for people with ongoing treatments, pregnancy care, or serious conditions flagged during initial checks.

Local authorities and voluntary groups are preparing for the practical realities of moving several hundred people into a former military site, with East Sussex County Council describing plans for safeguarding and public health checks alongside basic welfare support such as clothing and footwear for those arriving with minimal possessions. Council teams are working with the NHS on initial health assessments and immunisation catch-up, and with partners on access to interpreters for GP registration appointments and consultations. Interpreting support will be available through Sussex Interpreting Service on 01273 702005 and Vandu Language Services on 01273 473986, with the aim of reducing delays caused by language barriers.

Police have increased liaison with local agencies as the date approaches. Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said on November 6, 2025:

“We will continue to work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities.”

Police say they are monitoring reports from residents and town officials as preparations progress and are sharing information with the council and health services to reassure the public about site management and to respond quickly if problems arise.

The Home Office has signalled that Crowborough is part of a wider accommodation plan in the county, which includes Northeye, near Bexhill-on-Sea, under consideration for future use. East Sussex County Council has pressed the Home Office to publish more information about timelines, site operations and the likely impact on local services, saying that clear public updates would help residents understand how the accommodation will be managed and how health and safety risks will be addressed. Officials in the county say certainty around health access—especially GP registration—has been a key concern raised by local councillors and providers as they prepare staffing and appointment slots.

For asylum seekers, the immediate task on arrival will be GP registration, which health teams will help to complete on site or at nearby surgeries. Many people arriving after long journeys need prompt primary care to manage existing conditions, restart routine medications or complete vaccinations. NHS 111 will be available for medical advice around the clock, while A&E and urgent treatment centres remain open for emergencies. The Alliance for Better Care is coordinating with practices to schedule first appointments, including mental health check-ins and follow-ups for anyone flagged during initial triage.

The approach is designed to avoid bottlenecks at surgeries by spreading registrations across practices and using established routes to refer patients who need specialist help. People with ongoing hospital treatments will be signposted to appropriate secondary care, and those eligible will be supported to apply for HC2 certificates so that prescriptions and dental treatment are not delayed by cost. Health leaders say consistent rules on GP registration are essential when people have no fixed address or have recently moved between locations. The NHS guidance, which applies nationally, confirms that documents are not necessary to register with a GP; further details are set out in NHS guidance on registering with a GP.

Community groups in East Sussex are preparing donation drives for clothing and footwear and are coordinating with the council to deliver items as people arrive. The council’s public health team plans to carry out checks at the site, including screening where appropriate and referrals into local clinics. Sussex Police say they will continue to attend community meetings to hear concerns and to provide updates about safety measures tied to the accommodation.

The scale of the operation at Crowborough is significant for local GP practices, which will absorb up to 600 new registrations over the first phase of arrivals. Managers say the “no documents needed” rule will be explained to reception teams to prevent misunderstandings, and practices are being advised to flag if they reach capacity so that NHS England can help place people elsewhere. The 0300 311 2233 helpline will be publicised at the site and in information packs, alongside details for NHS 111 and local urgent care.

Officials emphasise that GP registration does not affect the asylum process, which is handled by the Home Office, but that it is critical for the health and wellbeing of people who may have gone without care while moving between countries. With East Sussex expecting people to remain at the Crowborough camp for up to a year, GPs will handle routine issues like check-ups, chronic disease management and maternity care, and will link patients to community services where needed.

The availability of interpreters is expected to be important in the first weeks. Surgeries have been told they can access language support through Sussex Interpreting Service on 01273 702005 and Vandu Language Services on 01273 473986, and that appointment letters and reminders can be adapted to meet language needs. Health teams say this will help reduce missed appointments and ensure patients can explain symptoms clearly.

The Home Office and NHS have also briefed Sussex Police on site operating plans and transport routes to reduce pressure on nearby roads and clinics. The county council said it would keep pressing for more public information about how the accommodation will be managed day to day and how any community impact will be addressed. Officials say practical details, such as how GP registration will be staggered and how people will be transferred to appointments, will be communicated closer to the first arrivals.

Northeye, near Bexhill-on-Sea, remains under review as a potential future site for asylum seeker accommodation. While no dates have been confirmed, local officials say the Crowborough arrangements provide a model for GP registration and health access that could be scaled up if Northeye is activated. For now, attention is on Crowborough and the immediate steps needed to bring several hundred people into local care systems without overwhelming practices.

As the start date nears, the message from authorities is that asylum seekers should make GP registration a priority, even if they do not have documents with them. Information on how to find a local surgery will be provided at the Crowborough camp, with a reminder that the NHS England helpline at 0300 311 2233 can help if a practice is full. NHS 111 remains the first stop for non-emergency advice, while A&E and urgent treatment centres are available for emergencies. With the first transfers due in November 2025, the NHS said the goal is simple:

“Asylum seekers placed in an army camp in East Sussex will be registered with local GPs.”

Police, meanwhile, have promised ongoing oversight, with Katy Bourne adding:

“We will continue to work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities.”