WEST Essex Community Health Council members have said they are "baffled" by health bosses' controversial proposal to close the branch doctors surgery in Nazeing by the end of this year or early next year.

The health council claims it is not being consulted by South East Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust about the fate of the surgery (situated above the post office in Nazeing Parade), as is required by law.

Chief officer Fiona Gilmour said: "Even after repeated requests, no approach has been made by the PCT for a formal consultation with us, which is baffling. The law says we should be consulted before any changes are proposed for a surgery in our area."

Nazeing district councillor John Carr, who is also a community health council member, said: "Community health councils were established to represent patients and their views, so it's imperative that the PCT consults the organisation before making any changes."

The organisation also intends raising the issue with MPs Bill Rammell and Eleanor Laing, and Broxbourne MP Marion Row.

South East Hertfordshire PCT's head of corporate affairs, Rachel Garrill, said: "We've taken their concerns on board and are in the process of producing a formal consultation document for the CHC."

Letters have been sent to the surgery's 2,000 patients notifying them about the proposals. Patients have until the end of December to submit their views.

Absence of modern standards, poor facilities and lack of privacy for patients at the three-sessions-a-week centre have been cited as main reasons for its proposed closure.

Dr Nick Condon of the Park Lane Surgery in Broxbourne, where patients will be transferred, said: "It's clear that conditions at the Nazeing surgery are not conducive to carrying on. Also, on average, only about 20 patients are seen in a week in the main for minor ailments like colds. Serious cases or examinations are not done there because of the lack of privacy and facilities.

"Moreover, the majority of those 20 have attended the Park Lane surgery over the years, so it's not as if patients will be left in the lurch. Moving the sessions will provide more than 20 extra appointments every week, so we feel our overall service will improve."

At Tuesday's Epping Forest Primary Care Trust board meeting, chief executive Aidan Thomas said: "We're happy to pursue the provision of services in Nazeing and Roydon. A common agreement needs to be reached, and there needs to be premises available.

"And what I have been quite clear about with South East Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust, Harlow Primary Care Trust and MP Bill Rammell is that we would be happy to submit a PMS Personal Medical Services bid."

PMS is a new way of contracting for primary care services, whereby a practice would get a monthly income.

Dr Rory McCrea said: "Usually the patients stick with the practitioner and the building. We need at least 2,000 patients for the PMS scheme to be successful. We, as a board, need to know from the people of Nazeing what they want, otherwise this is a pointless exercise."

November 29, 2001 8:47