PATIENTS have been urged to attend a meeting about the future of under-threat GP services.

NHS England and Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is considering closing South Essex Managed Care (SEMC), based at the Wickford Health Centre, and The Gore Surgery in Basildon.

A meeting has been organised by the NHS at the Wickford surgery, in Market Road, Wickford, at 7pm tomorrow.

Malcolm Buckley, county councillor for Wickford Crouch, said residents are “concerned” about the proposals.

He said: “The meeting has been called by the NHS itself. It’s all part of how they see the future of the provision of primary care.

“I would certainly encourage patients to go to the meeting. I have had a meeting, along with other councillors, where they have talked about some of their thoughts.

“What they are emphasising to us, is that what they are doing at the moment is a consultation rather than a predetermined decision.”

The contract for The Gore Surgery is due to expire on February 28, 2018, and at SEMC on January 31, 2018. Under the proposals, the two contracts would not be renewed.

However, the Wickford Health Centre would not be closing, with the Swanwood GP surgery continuing to operate from the site.

Mr Buckley said: “I think it’s important that patients do go along and are prepared to listen to what’s said.

“All of us do depend on the services of our local GPs and we are all equally aware that they are under pressure.”

An online petition launched to save the Wickford surgery has already attracted more than 120 signatures.

The petition was posted on change.org by “Staff and Patients of Wickford Health Centre”.

It said: “Our Doctors Surgery has been threatened with closure. The surgery is badly needed. We have 5,500 patients who would be split between three already struggling surgeries. There are also 33,000 plus people in Wickford and only three remaining surgeries if we close."

Visit the petition here.