Dr Vijayakar Abrol has put up a sign in the window of the City Road Medical Centre in Birmingham telling asylum seekers to stay away.

The GP claims they are taking resources away from the rest of the patients on his list and the demand is such he is not able to treat them.

But his actions have been variously described as xenophobic and ridiculous by health officials and the Commission for Racial Equality.

'Staff protection'

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dr Abrol said he was just trying to be a doctor.

When it comes to them misbehaving with staff and being aggressive in the surgery, it affects other patients in the surgery who are law-abiding citizens

Dr Vijayakar Abrol

"My two principles are the quality of delivery of patient care and the protection of my staff.

"When both were threatened, I had to call a halt to the thing that threatened them.

"Asylum seekers are very demanding. There are problems with their language and we cannot provide the services for them.

"It is not a question of not liking them, but I cannot provide the service if I don't understand the language.

Zero tolerance

"I am only one person who can provide help. Other people have to support us in providing help.

"Do you want me to ignore my existing patients for these asylum seekers?" he said.

Dr Vijayakar Abrol: Doesn't understand their language

He said he had reached the stage where he needed to introduce a zero tolerance policy.

"I have looked after asylum seekers for nearly two years now.

"When it comes to them misbehaving with staff and being aggressive in the surgery, it affects other patients in the surgery who are law-abiding citizens."

'Disappointing stance'

But Dr Vidhe Mayor, chair of the professional executive committee of the Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust, said Dr Abrol's comments could not be condoned.

"We are really disappointed in the stance Dr Abrol has adopted and in no way whatsoever can it be condoned," he said.

"We want to distance ourselves from his statements which, frankly, smack of xenophobia."

He said he sympathised with the language problems but said: "To single out asylum seekers is reprehensible."

The Commission for Racial Equality said it could not comment on whether Dr Abrol was legally entitled to stop asylum seekers registering as patients.

'Ridiculous'

But it said it was concerned that asylum seekers in the area were not getting health care because of decisions made by individual GPs. Speaking about Dr Abrol's claims that asylum seekers were disruptive, a spokesperson for the CRE said: "He cannot say they all fall into the same category.

"He has every right to remove disruptive individuals from his list, but to not allow people to even come onto his list to judge whether they are, is just ridiculous."

Nick Hardwick, chief executive of the Refugee Council added: "This doctor's actions are completely unacceptable. People who are sick should be treated according to their need not their immigration status."

Your reaction

I work in an A and E department in Manchester which deals with a considerable number of immigrants and asylum seekers. While I do not necessarily agree with the decision that this GP has taken I do have considerable sympathy with his actions. As a group, asylum seekers are considerably stressful to deal with. It has to be said, however, that much of the population that attend our department fit into that category as well.

The whole question of how we deal with asylum seekers and immigrants has not been addressed properly by those in a position of authority. Human rights and ethics demand that they are entitled to healthcare. Currently it is all too easy to identify asylum seekers as a drain on society and "a problem" and I would admit myself to frequently lapsing into this point of view. As long as this perception exists then it will give fascist groups such as the BNP chance to flourish. They, and those who follow them, represent a greater threat to our society.
Dr Andrew Curphey, UK

A doctor has an ethical responsibility to care for the health of patients no matter who they are.

Anthony Stapleton, London

A doctor has an ethical responsibility to care for the health of patients no matter who they are. If he or she refuses they are no longer practising with an open heart and open mind and therefore should resign till they regain the desire to care for their patients with equanimity. If they refuse they should be struck off the medical register. If the doctor needs extra resources, for instance translators, then he should apply to the Local Authority and be provided with them.
Anthony Stapleton, London, UK

If some of these asylum seekers are doctors and nurses why don't they stay in the refugee centres and care for their own people, which would be culturally more sensitive? We have the same problems here, with hospitals spending health funding on hundreds of interpreters, and then the patients leave unpaid accounts, as health care here is not free. So there is less money for the genuine Kiwi's health.
Jill Jeffs, New Zealand

At a time where waiting lists are unacceptable, I applaud this doctor's rational thinking. If my life was put at risk due to my local authority having to treat foreign patients I would feel robbed of my right to treatment that I had already paid for. We are doing enough by allowing them refuge without increasing the demand on our own health service. Why not steer them to private Hospitals and add the medical bill to their nation's national debt? I refuse to see why it is even contemplated that we should queue up behind refugees!
Neil Faraday, England

Speaking of language problems, perhaps Dr Abrol should check his sentence structure before posting signs. As for his generalistic comments on behaviour, yes, maybe some asylum need a kick up the backside in manners; but I'm sure there are plenty of UK citizens who would benefit from such an action.
Anon, England

If we as doctors do not help these poor people, then who would?

Param J. Chaugule, USA

I think as a physician myself, I cannot condone what this so-called doctor thinks that he is doing. Why do the asylum seekers seek a better life? For their wives/husbands & children. If we as doctors do not help these poor people, then who would? Many a time an expression or even sign language is more than enough to diagnose an illness.
Param J. Chaugule, USA

This doctor is NOT racist. The sign "no asylum seekers" does not specify a race.
john, England

I moved to London 6 months ago, but have yet to find a GP surgery which will take me on. I have been refused by 3 surgeries (usually don't get past the receptionist). I am not an asylum seeker, I am a tax paying member of this country. I don't think this is a race issue, but one of lack of resources
Nita, London

It's all very well saying he's being ridiculous or xenophobic and it may be true. I find it sad though that once again the economic and practical realities are ignored to make way for blind idealism. If the man can't cope, find out why and fix it. I wouldn't presume to know how to do this man's job but the Health Authority should be helping him resolve the situation, not attacking him.
James, England

I wonder just how many workers from the Refugee Council don't have a GP?

Stephen, London

In London all asylum seekers can demand to be taken on by a GP surgery whereas many local people are being turned away from registering with a GP because their lists are closed. This is absolutely disgusting and highlights how resources are stretched. I wonder just how many workers from the Refugee Council don't have a GP?
Stephen, London

If this country continues to have an "open door" policy, resources will soon be drained and sufficient state help will no longer be able to be provided for its existing residents. At present, I am unable to get a doctors appointment unless it is booked two weeks in advance - that is no welfare state.
Felicity, England

Has this doctor taken leave of his senses? His comments are all the worse given that people from his ethnic background have had to fight to stop this sort of thing happening to them. How does he expect to get more resources by hitting out at those he is supposed to be helping?
Jon Tennison, Britain

I think he's very brave to take these steps knowing it may have a detrimental effect on his career. I sympathise as I deal with asylum seekers daily. There are exceptions to the rule, but generally they don't think they should wait their turn, they demand to be dealt with immediately and they are abusive if things don't go the way they want them to.
Anon, UK

Many asylum seekers are themselves medically trained. We should, instead of barring these new micro-communities from critical services, speed up the certification of those who could help from within the communities. That would solve this perceived problem and many other issues we have in our NHS.
Richard, UK

Firstly, doctors have never turned patients away on the grounds of not understanding their language. Secondly, is Dr Abrol suggesting that only asylum seekers misbehave? What about the citizens of this country? Go to any GP surgery or A&E and you will see the misbehaviour of the citizens of this country.
Dr Saleem, UK

He should not discriminate who is more deserving

Lucy Masters, Birmingham, England

Dr Vijayakar Abrol's comments have angered me. As a carer he should not discriminate who is more deserving. Yes, he and asylum seekers should receive more support with translation. But his attitude doesn't just smack of xenophobia it is racist.
Lucy Masters, Birmingham, England

I work in a hospital near Heathrow and would have to agree with Dr Abrol. The system is reaching crisis point and people are suffering and dying because of it.
Sarah Hamilton, UK

I worked as a doctors' receptionist in West London and though appalled by the notice placed by Dr Abrol on his surgery door know that this is only a more blatant example of the covert discrimination that is the policy of a huge number of GPs. I was told to turn away all asylum seekers and to tell them that our lists were full though on some days I would register up to 20 non-asylum seeker patients. So an asylum seeker in obvious need of medical help would be turned away but we would register the British patient who was next in the queue. Yes, GPs need more resources to help them help asylum seekers. They also need less prejudice.
Angela Style

While his action does sounds like xenophobia I have to agree with him. Most GPs are fully booked and cannot accept anyone (asylum seeker or otherwise) so I it could come down to resources like he says.
Neil, UK

A doctor should have a choice who he/she treats. If resources are stretched they have the right to refuse to treat people. If people are rude or offensive they have every right to refuse them. This country needs to treat people like doctors and teachers with RESPECT, and listen to their concerns.
Jamie Kelly, England