A MEDICAL centre in Winsford has apologised after refusing to register a patient for not declaring his ethnicity.

Jez Daniels, aged 40, contacted the Guardian, when staff at the Swanlow Practice, on Dene Drive, said they wouldn’t register him as a patient without knowing his ethnic origin.

In protest, Jez - who has recently moved to the town - told staff he was white Irish, only to discover the next day he had not been given a doctors appointment.

At the time, staff at the surgery said it was their policy to refuse anyone who didn’t complete the ethnicity form but have since released a statement to apologise.

Angela Roberts, branch manager, said she hopes the same situation won’t repeat itself.

In a statement she added: “I have written to the patient personally and offered my sincerest apologies for the mix up when he tried to register as a patient with us.

“We have an open list and would never purposely deny any person registration at Swanlow.

“I have appraised all staff on the non–compulsory aspect to the ethnicity questionnaire in the hope that this situation never arises again.”

However, speaking to the Guardian, Angela said it was important to collate the ethnicity from newly registered patients.

She said: “There are different clinical guidelines for different races.

“For example, if somebody wanted to start on medication for high blood pressure it would be different for Caucasian than it would for Asian.

“However it is absolutely not our policy refuse patients and I’ve appraised all staff on this.”