Health bosses are to ask for plans to close a surgery near Colchester to be put on hold
Members of Colchester Primary Trust's (PCT) board discussed plans for the Constable County Rural Medical Practice, which wants to close its Parsons Field Surgery because it is unfit for staff and patients.
The final decision over whether it will close will be made by Suffolk Primary Care Trust but Colchester PCT has been invited into discussions because Colchester Council owns the buildings the practice was operating from.
It had been based there for 30 years but the building has now been seen as inaccessible to wheelchair users and unsafe for staff.
Members of the board have now approved a letter to be sent on their behalf by chairman Maggie Shackell but they agreed to change it from saying they objected to the plans to asking for the surgery not to be closed.
The plans have caused huge discussion in the area and concerns were raised by residents that there was not adequate transport to get them to the surgery at East Bergholt, which would be their nearest practice.
At the meeting, the board heard the council's statement that it is unlikely other premises can be found in the area but it has no objection, in principle, to extending the existing premises, which it may be possible to secure funding for.
Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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