More than 1,000 Grimsby Telegraph readers have said “no” to paying for the care of a failed asylum seeker who was seriously injured in a car crash.
They were asked to fill in a coupon which said that, while sympathising with Shirwan Sabir Mahmod’s plight, they objected to the £440,000 bill, rising by £4,000 a week, being paid by the local primary care trust.
This is because, at the time of the accident, the Iraqi was registered with a Grimsby doctor having lived in the town under the Government’s dispersion scheme.
The story has received national publicity and local MP Austin Mitchell tabled an Early Day Motion to further highlight what he feels is the injustice faced by the local trust.
Telegraph editor Michelle Lalor said: “We have had to be careful to tread the fine line between exposing this unfair situation and not fuelling the racism surrounding the asylum issue.
“It has been an unprecedented response. We have received more than 1,000 coupons in six days.”
The Evening Telegraph will present the coupons to the Department of Health.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
