Migrants housed at an army base in East Sussex will have their own on-site GP in an effort to relieve the impact on local services despite an appointment crisis affecting millions of Britons.
Crowborough saw mass protests throughout the summer as it was announced that 540 male asylum seekers would be housed in the local army barracks.
Despite the backlash, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed the first 27 migrants were moved in during the early hours of Thursday morning, with local campaigners complaining they had been "smuggled in under the cover of darkness".
The Home Office also confirmed that each migrant will be registered with a GP, located on site, where they will be able to attend appointments.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
They will only have to attend off-site services if they require further treatment that is not otherwise available at the site.
The Home Office said this is aimed at reducing the impact the site may have on local GP appointments.
It comes despite the ongoing appointment crisis for the rest of the population.
Research by the Liberal Democrats shows that, between September and November 2025, 7.6 million patients had to wait more than four weeks to see a GP, up by over 300,000 since the same period last year.
Migrants housed at an army base in East Sussex will have their own on-site GP in an effort to relieve the impact on local services - despite the ongoing appointment crisis
| PASpecifically in Sussex, 80,274 people were forced to wait more than four weeks for an appointment in November 2025, up 29.76 per cent from when Labour was voted into office.
Andrew Wilson, District Councillor for Crowborough South East Ward pointed to a contradiction to the screening opinion provided to the Home Office from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
In the statement, under the "Health of service" section, it reads: "Healthcare is provided through the onsite Medical Centre, which is open Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 18:00. There is also an on-site nurse which acts as a GP outreach service. There is a daily mental health support group that is available as a walk-in service. If the medical centre is closed, a welfare team is available."
"The provision of an on-site GP directly conflicts with the evidence we have around medical provision in the camp," Cllr Wilson told GB News.
"In any case, should a GP be located 'on site' the obvious question is where this person would come from? GPs do not appear by magic, and Crowborough residents already struggle to get appointments at existing practices.
"If a GP can be found for this camp, it exposes a clear choice about whose healthcare is being prioritised."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Crowborough represents one of two locations identified for accommodating individuals who arrived via small boats | PAThe plan to house migrants at Crowborough - part of Ms Mahmood's vision to scrap migrant hotels, of which there were 36,273 occupants as of September last year - has been met with fierce criticism from locals.
Protests have been a weekly occurrence in the area, with one resident telling GB News: "The town and everyone in the surrounding areas is absolutely petrified and for good reason."
Councillor James Partridge said Wealden Council has asked their legal team to see if there is any way they can challenge the decision.
The Liberal Democrat councillor for the Crowborough North ward added: "This is a message I never wanted to have to give. We still believe the decision is wrong, but we do have to make the best of it."
Until Thursday, the Home Office insisted no final decision on whether to use the camp had been made. Yet, on Wednesday night, Wealden District Council confirmed that Asylum Minister Alex Norris told them the plan had been given the green light.
The first migrants arrived at the site at 3.30am on Thursday morning, accompanied by a police escort.
Announcing the arrival, the Home Secretary said: "Crowborough is just the start. I will bring forward site after site until every asylum hotel is closed and returned to local communities. I will not rest until order and control to our borders is restored."
Campaigner Eddie Fahey added: "When you see equipment being smuggled in under the cover of darkness then you know that decision has already been taken and any claims to the contrary are lies.
"It’s a disgrace we are being treated like this. It is shameful that our justifiable concerns are being ignored."
The Government has insisted that the asylum seekers will be held at the site for a maximum of three months, while they wait for the outcome of their application. They will then be removed from the country if they are rejected.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "This site was used to train 6,000 army and RAF cadets each year as well as for police and fire training. They have all now been kicked out to accommodate illegal immigrants instead.
"Illegal immigrants are costing £4billion a year to house and they pose a threat to local communities up and down the country.
"We have seen hundreds of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in asylum accommodation, including many rapes, sexual assaults and even murder. Now the women and children of Crowborough will be exposed to those risks too."
Crowborough is the first of two army barracks that will be converted into temporary accommodation for migrants.
Up to 300 asylum seekers are expected to be housed at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, though plans have been stalled after problems with maintenance and planning permission.
More From GB News