THE CONTROVERSIAL decision to close a popular surgery against the wishes of it’s 2,000 patients was not due to a funding problem according to the PCT, but campaigners disagree.

The surgery, in Sun Street was shut in June after dedicated long-serving GP Dr Lakha retired through ill-health- and furious users were told they would not have a say in it’s future.

They were told that they could have a choice of other surgeries in the town but could not continue at the Sun Street address, despite coming up with an alternative rescue plan.

Despite petitioning for two popular locums to take over the practice, the PCT clamed that they would not be able to give the practice over to them for “contractual reasons”

However, at a heated public meeting , PCT chief executive Aiden Thomas was forced to admit that the building would be too expensive to alter to meet the Disability discrimination act (DDA).

The PCT’s handling of the decision is currently under investigation by the County Council and campaigners are vowing to turn out to voice their anger.

Mrs Joan Walsh, 65, was a patient of Sun Street for the past 15 years and said she was “amazed” at the PCT’s claims.

She said: “Of course it’s about money, it’s always been about money, the PCT told us that t would be too expensive to make the building any good for use, so how can they turn around and say it’s not about money?

“All they’ve done all along is what suits them, they’ve put money before people and we told them that countless times.”

Despite this the PCT are adamant the decision was not due to funding considerations.

Toni Coles, director of primary care and localities with NHS West Essex, said: "Dr Lakha ended his contract to provide GP services from his premises in Sun Street when he retired due to his ill health.

"We have explained to patients that were previously registered with Dr Lakha that they need to register with another practice.

"The PCT has given patients details of five practices in the area, all of which are accepting new patients.

"So far more than three-quarters of these patients have re-registered with a new practice and we would urge the remaining patients to do so as soon as possible to ensure the continuity of their health care."

She added: "We have never stated that it would cost too much to keep the practice open. For contractual reasons the PCT was not able to transfer the practice to the two locum GPs.

“In addition to this the Sun Street Surgery premises were not owned by the PCT but Dr Lakha.

"Even if there had been an option to continue providing services from Sun Street the premises did not meet current Disability Discrimination Act requirements and were not able to accommodate the range of services that we want local people to have access to.

"Whilst we know many people are upset by this, the PCT has attempted to provide maximum choice for local people by supporting them in moving to any one of the other practices elsewhere in the town.

"We could have transferred the patient list to another practice but felt this was unsatisfactory and took the action we did to give patients a choice of practice for their future health needs."

"The PCT is co-operating with the West Essex Area Forum on its review of the closure process of the Sun Street Surgery."