Danbury: Patients' campaign to save surgery

The overwhelming call for the Hoppit Surgery to stay open has led to health chiefs recommending a search should start for a new single-handed GP to take over the practice, which has 1,780 patients.

A final decision on the surgery's future will be taken at a meeting next Thursday, but Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust's board has been recommended to accept the views put forward by patients that the practice should continue in its present form.

Sally Barber, practice manager, said, "We are very pleased with this recommendation. It is what we were hoping for and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will be accepted by the PCT board.

"I don't think there would have been the hope of saving the surgery if patients had not made their views clear. All we wanted was the chance for the surgery to continue as it is."

The closure of the surgery was considered by the PCT following the announcement that Dr Ashley Pain was retiring after 19 years as lead GP at the practice.

The possibility of the surgery being shut caused a storm of protest and public consultation involving four options was organised by the PCT.

Mike Harrison, chief executive of teh PCT said: "The consultation has produced some very positive feedback and the overwhelming view has been for The Hoppit surgery to continue as a single-handed practice.

"The consultation has also provided us with a valuable opportunity to seek comments on additional services which may in future be provided and members of the public have been very forthcoming with their views.

"The PCT's Professional Executive Committee, which includes GPs and other clinicians, met to discuss the results of this informal consultation and has recommended to the board that we proceed with the option of advertising the practice as a single-handed GP practice. However, I must stress that the final decision rests with the trust board."

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

Brought to you by the Essex Chronicle