HEALTH chiefs have approved plans to close a Durham city centre surgery because of a shortage of GPs.

But they have insisted on a phased withdrawal over six months of services from St Margaret's Surgery, Crossgate.

Patients have been re-assured they will not be left without a GP.

And the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust is still hoping that the site could be the home of some form of medical service.

The Chastelton Medical Group, which also has a surgery at Framwellgate Moor, says it has had to close St Margaret's because it has been hit by the national GP shortage.

It has lost four doctors in recent months but has been unable to find replacements, despite a high-profile advertising campaign, leaving four to care for a total of 14,400 patients between the two surgeries.

The Durham Community Health Council, the area's health watchdog, which received no complaints from patients, raised no opposition to the closure.

A trust spokeswoman said that it will continue to work closely with the Chastleton Medical Group to minimise disruption to patients during this difficult time for the practice.

"The practice currently has no plans to reduce the number of patients on its list and will be working with the trust to ensure all patients have access to a GP. Patients who use the St Margaret's Surgery will be able to access services from Chastleton Surgery, Framwellgate Moor.

"Transport issues and prescription collection will also be looked at over the coming months.

"The practice and the trust will be discussing the possibility of the trust acquiring the St Margaret's premises for primary health care use.''

A report to the trust said that the majority of patients consulted were sad about the surgery's closure and mentioned the high standard of care they received from doctors and staff.

The majority of criticisms about the move related to transport problems elderly patients could face of they transfer to Chastleton Surgery.