The government policy of dispersing asylum seekers away from London and the south-east may increase HIV transmission, medical experts warned last night.

They also said it may interrupt therapy and compromise care. Nineteen clinics said asylum seekers had been moved against medical advice.

The warnings result from a survey of English sexual health clinics by specialists in genito-urinary medicine in London, and reported in the British Medical Journal.

It is not known how many of the more than 100,000 dispersed people have HIV, but many come from areas with Aids epidemics.

Doctors said dispersal was done at short notice or with no prior arrangement, and often without the transfer of full medical details. Only three of 56 centres had experienced the appropriate transfer of care.

The survey, led by consul-tants in Camden primary care trust, said transferring HIV patients could lead to increasing resistance to drugs, the spread of the disease and avoidable illness and death. They said the National Asylum Support Service should seek specialist advice before moving someone.

Asylum seekers may only receive 48 hours' notice of a move. If they refuse they face immediate loss of income, housing and legal support.

Last week the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, warned of the fast-growing threat from HIV in the UK. James Meikle