Pharmacists are to be recruited to work on Britain’s first asylum camp, under new NHS plans.

The controversial centre – which has been referred to as ‘Guantanamo-on-Ouse’ by local York councillors – has been put forward by the home secretary, Priti Patel, to house asylum seekers who will have access to a ‘bespoke’ primary care service on-site.

Pharmacists, along with GPs, dentists and optometrists are among those who would work on-site under the plans.

The proposed camp, which would be at a former RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, would work as a processing centre for up to 1,500 asylum seekers on a biannual basis, the Vale of York’s CCG documents explained.

According to the plans, the specialist on-site health services will be set up to prevent the existing NHS provision in the local town from becoming overloaded.

The CCG said it would not be ‘realistically achievable’ for the three GP practices in nearby Tollerton to take on an additional 3,000 patients per year.

The documents detail plans to commission a ‘bespoke, standalone enhanced primary care service for the asylum seeker population’ due to be ready by end of this month.

Plans to open to camp in May 2022 were delayed following opposition from residents, the document explained.

The camp on the former RAF base will house up to 1,500 men aged 18 to 40.

The proposals are due to be discussed by the CCG tomorrow.

Earlier this month, the Home Office said they had not made a final decision on whether the centre, which was announced in April, will open, ITV reported.