MEDICS from the Huddersfield area are going on a mercy mission to help patients in one of the poorest parts of India.

Diabetes consultant Dr Vijay Bangar is teaming up with consultant gastro-enterologist Dr Ashwin Verma and accident and emergency department matron Craig Woods to help improve healthcare facilities at a hospital in Dehpur-Koopur, in the north-western Punjab region.

The three, who are to travel to the country next month, will train staff at the Sant Sarwan Hospital.

Dr Bangar and Dr Verma work at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Halifax's Calderdale Royal Hospital. Mr Woods works at the Halifax hospital.

Dr Bangar said the Indian hospital - which lacks specialist medical staff - was little more than a medicine dispensary when he first visited it four years ago.

He added: "The most senior doctors there have about four years' postgraduate experience, which is registrar level in British terms.

"I am confident the aid our multi-disciplined, multi-lingual team can provide will significantly improve many lives."

The group will focus on educating medical and nursing staff to enable them to offer better care.

On his last visit, in February, 2004, Dr Bangar offered free diabetic consultation to people who otherwise could not afford any healthcare.

He said: "Many patients who attended the diabetes clinic presented aspects of the illness I had never seen in the UK.

"Some would have almost certainly died without the treatment they received."

The team hopes to secure humanitarian grants from the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the Government's Department of Health to help pay for the trip.