Currently, the way services are structured indicates that some members of our society have no access to health care.

Scrutiny Chairman, Councillor Deirdre Alden said, "The United Kingdom is a country with a rich heritage of welcoming people from abroad. It is important that those who fall between the gaps of normal service provision do not become destitute. I want to ensure that services are appropriate to the health needs of the whole population.

"All Birmingham residents have a right to good quality health care, no matter what their situation is, and I want to hear from members of new communities so that we can record their experiences. We will be holding a number of public forums over the next couple of months to encourage Birmingham's varied migrant communities to come and talk to us."

The review will establish who these groups are and the extent to which Birmingham City Council and the NHS can ensure that health services meet their needs. The review will also help to identify any major health concerns prevalent within these communities.

The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2004 states that it is illegal to provide health care to asylum seekers and refugees who have been refused leave to remain unless it is in a pressing medical emergency. However, initial discussions between the Scrutiny Committee and partner organisations confirmed that there were different interpretations of what is regarded as a pressing medical emergency and that this was potentially leading to health inequalities across the city.

The Scrutiny Committee now wants to hear from Birmingham's varied communities of their experiences, concerns and needs.

Councillor Alden added, "Clearly the Council and NHS need to work within the same definition of what is regarded as a pressing medical emergency and create a more flexible service that meets the needs of Birmingham's entire population."

The Committee's investigations will include a variety of health topics such as pre-natal care, infant mortality, sexual health and mental health.

The entire review can be tracked at http://www.birminghamscrutiny.org.

Further information can be obtained from Lorraine Donovan, Media Contact on 0121 464 6872.