Villagers to lose their weekly GP surgery

Despite opposition from residents in Quarrington Hill, near Durham, their Monday surgeries are to be disbanded following a decision by Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) last week.

The practice, Dr Woods and Partners, which has its main base in Coxhoe, wants to stop the two-hour weekly surgeries. They say they cannot give patients the standards of care they should, because of the difficulties in working in a community hall and the fact that GPs cannot work in Quarrington Hill with the support of nurses or other medical staff.

The Trust board visited the community centre and found there was nowhere private for patients to undress. They also found the receptionist had to be used if a chaperone was needed for a patient examination, and had to take all the appointment and prescription books with her when she did so.

The problems have been compounded by the fact that one doctor is leaving the surgery and the remaining GPs felt it would be difficult to find new recruits who would be willing to work in this way.

But Quarrington Hill resident William Jones, who spoke on behalf of patients at last Thursday's PCT board meeting, argued that many villagers would have difficulty getting to other surgeries if it closed.

He said: "I think the fear is that if this goes on and the doctor stops attending, then Quarrington Hill will be forgotten about and I can see in the future we will be looking around for a doctor." Mr Jones said there were new houses being built at Quarrington Hill and surrounding villages and that this would add to the demand for the weekly service.

Dr Rosemary Woods, who has been at the practice for 20 years, told the meeting, held at Durham University's Science Park, that patients would not have to look for another GP practice, as they would still be treated at the Coxhoe surgery.

She said: "I hope they appreciate it's not my intention to get rid of patients, because I love them dearly."