A POPULAR Doctors surgery will be shut down without consultation, much to the fury of its patients.

The Sun Street Surgery in Waltham Abbey was the home of Dr Lakha, who recently announced his retirement after falling ill.

Even with another doctor asking if he could take over the practice, NHS West Essex have decided to close it down, without asking any of the 2,000 registered patients what they think.

Many of the patients fear long waiting lists at the other surgeries and a re furious they weren't asked for their opinions.

Mrs Joan Walsh has been a regular patient for the past 15 years.

She said: "There's a clinic on Sewardstone Road, which has two surgeries in it - you can't get an appointment for two weeks there."

"I told them if they paid me a thousand pounds to join that one i'd throw the money back in their faces.

"We have not been asked what we want, if the other doctor says he wants to take over the surgery then they should let him. I'm determined to keep this place open"

"We had one letter from them a month ago, but we haven't heard anything else, I know that people are upset about it, i've signed a petition with 600 signatures on it."

"The majority of the other patients i've spoken to don't want to go to another surgery, many of them are elderly."

If the surgery is closed five members of staff will also lose their jobs.

Practice Manager Michelle Mullally said:" The majority of our patients don't want to go, I had one lady who was waiting for three weeks at another practice in the town.

"If the surgery shuts five of us will lose our jobs, but we're trying to put a brave face on it."

NHS West Essex director of corporate services Leigh Fleming said: "Dr Lakha is a single-handed practitioner working from a Grade 2 listed building that is in need of repair and modernisation that does not meet current Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements.

"The PCT has been supporting Dr Lakha in recent weeks as it became clear he would not be able to return to work. The PCT wrote to all his registered patients advising them of Dr Lakha’s retirement and that the PCT is considering the options available to them. Patients are able to contact the PCT for further information and advice through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

"The Waltham Abbey area is well served by general practice with four practices less than a mile from Sun Street, (Keyhealth, Market Square, Maynard Court and Greenyard) all of which have open lists with the capacity to take on additional patients.

"We are very aware that many patients' relationship with their practice is important and something they would chose rather than have imposed on them so the PCT proposes to write to every patient and give them the option of registering with any of the practices noted above."