Patients and staff at a surgery in Danbury are celebrating victory in their campaign to save the practice from closure.
Their bid to keep The Hoppit surgery open, following the retirement of Dr Ashley Pain, has met with success.
The campaigners had urged Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust to advertise the practice to be taken over by another single-handed GP, rather than closing it and dispersing patients to other practices.
At a meeting on Thursday the PCT agreed to seek another GP to take on The Hoppit practice in Maldon Road, Danbury, which has 1,780 patients.
Practice manager Sally Barber said, "We are delighted at the decision, as this is the outcome we wanted.
"The campaign has been going on for five months and there has been tremendous support from patients and staff.
"Although the process of finding another GP is going to take some time, we are thrilled that the practice is going to continue. We have been told that if there is no interest shown by GPs, the PCT will take over the running of the surgery."
Locum doctors will continue to run The Hoppit during the process of finding a new GP to take over the practice.
Published Wednesday September 1, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article