FRIGHTENED residents worried they will not be able to access GP services packed out a church hall to raise their concerns over plans to merge two surgeries.

More than 70 residents attended a consultation event at St David’s Church, in Rayleigh Road, to meet with bosses at the Eastwood Group Practice over plans to close the surgery at 346 Rayleigh Road and merge it with the nearby Kent Elms branch at 1 Rayleigh Road.

Despite the close proximity of the two surgeries, residents fear they will be unable to travel to the Kent Elms branch and worry about the impact of up to 4,000 patients moving to the surgery.

The Eastwood Group Practice reiterated its desire to work with patients and take their feedback on board, though Eastwood Park councillor and Liberal Democrat leader, Paul Collins (pictured inset), has stated that concerns need to be taken more seriously.

He said: “There were lots of people in that room, worried and frightened residents and I am lucky I was allowed to attend to represent the people.

“The clinic made sure to explain the rational and medical reasons they are looking to perform the merger, but I believe they have not listened to the more basic worries of “I need a surgery nearby that I can walk down to” and I hope this meeting enables that conversation.

“It was claimed that they are moving to a primary care network approach, where you can have nurses come to your home, it is something they are trying to bring into place, but they need to do more to understand their own patients.”

Mr Collins added that he told the doctors about a situation where a woman in her 80s was forced to travel “back and forth between clinics for an injection by a nurse that could have been done in her house” and has called on the group practice to do more.

“I hope they are listening and finding ways to help the surgery move forward,” he said.

Dr Lal, GP at Eastwood Group Practice, said: “We are very grateful to everyone that came along to our second meeting with patients to discuss the potential impact of proposals around the closure of the small surgery site at 346 Rayleigh Road.

“We want to hear what people think of our ideas, how they think they may be impacted by them and how we can work together on solutions.

“It was hugely beneficial and all the feedback we received will be taken into consideration as part of the decision-making process.”