Dickon Hooper BBC News, Bristol

Asylum seekers are not allowed to undertake paid work

The Refugee Clinicians Project, at the City of Bristol College, offers an opportunity for qualified medics to gain work experience through placements in the health service.

The scheme initially targeted 40 doctors when it launched two years ago, but now has around 100 professionals on its books, training and looking for attachments.

Mohammed Elsharif, outreach co-ordinator, said: "There is a high demand for qualified health professionals in the South West. Refugee health professionals are a valuable resource.

"They want to go back to their professions and are wasted driving a taxi."

The project was originally funded as a partnership between the Learning and Skills Council, the NHS Workforce Development Confederation, the Department for Health and the College.

The project is a hope and is better than nothing Dr Aidroos Gabobe

A government spokesman said it supports the scheme "...to encourage refugees with health professional skills to continue their careers in the NHS to benefit the refugees themselves, their communities, the NHS and its patients."

But to qualify to work in the NHS, doctors granted asylum must have a certain level of English and passed medical equivalence exams.

They also face cultural barriers, which include not knowing how the job market works. Asylum seekers are also not allowed to work while their claim is being processed.

Elinor Harris of Refugee Action in Bristol, says: "What it means, when you do get status here, is that you've been living in this separate world, where you don't know how the job market work. You have to start all over again."

Dr Aidroos Gabobe, 38, became a British citizen after seeking asylum six years ago and has worked with the scheme.

He worked as a doctor in Somalia for two years, but he currently works as a security guard, because he does not have the necessary English qualifications to take the medical exams.

He said: "The project is a hope and is better than nothing.

The project aims to help refugees in and around the Bristol area

"But I recently visited my mum in hospital and saw student doctors and just hated myself. I used to be like that."

The scheme is now at a crossroads, because it is facing a cash crisis and organisers want to seek charitable status to help with funding.

They are also considering broadening it out to include other professions such as teachers.

Whatever they choose, it will continue to be affected by the government's dispersal policy.

While claims are being processed asylum seekers can apply for accommodation and means-tested financial support - worth 70% of income support for adults - from the National Asylum Support Service (Nass), part of the Home Office.

But once in the system, Nass can disperse asylum seekers anywhere in the country.

Housing shortage

Jan Bovill, head of faculty at the college, said: "You can be training people and then they are [moved somewhere else]. People start things that they can't finish."

Ms Harris agrees: "This isn't always useful for integrating.

"It would be more effective for people to live where there is community support."

The South West has lower numbers of asylum seekers living in the region than other areas of the country due to a lack of housing.