A “SLUM doctor” is urging people to join his team of healthcare professionals treating patients in India.

Dr Vijay Bangar, who works as a diabetes consultant at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, is project managing The Slum Doctor Project.

The project launched a series of small diabetes clinics in 2004 and last year a team of six doctors and nurses flew out to join a team of Indian healthcare professionals for a week.

The team managed to help 1,000 patients at the camp each day. Now Dr Bangar wants health professionals to volunteer to join this year’s March expedition to The Punjab region.

The main focus will be treating diabetes – which is prevalent in Asian populations.

Dr Bangar said: “As well as giving life-saving treatment we have given people their sight back by removing cataracts and enabled patients to hear by fitting hearing aids.”

“This is a great opportunity for healthcare professionals to come to India and make a massive difference to the lives of people in urgent need of help.”

The clinics are based at the Baba Braham Dass High school in Phillaur.

Those interested can email slumdoctor@hotmail.co.uk.