A GROUP campaigning to save a threatened doctor’s surgery hope a meeting of a county council health committee will help delay its closure.

Councillors and residents fighting for the future of Deer Park Medical Centre in Witney will attend a meeting of Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee tomorrow.

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said it had been forced to close it because, when it put the service out to tender, no one came forward with a business plan that met its standards. The surgery had been run by Virgin Care.

But MP for Witney Robert Courts has urged the committee to vote to register the closure of the surgery a ‘substantial change, which would see the matter referred to the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt for review.

Mr Courts said: “Witney is a growing town, which is likely to have significant development in the coming years.

“There are already 4,500 people being treated at the surgery, to say nothing of the thousands more if Witney expands. This will undoubtedly have a great impact on waiting times at other surgeries, as well as increasing the pressure on the GPs themselves.

“That is not to mention how the reallocation of patients will impact the travel time and practicalities involved in what should be a simple matter of visiting your GP. Deer Park is a practice well-loved by the people of West Witney and the surrounding villages.

“This is a hub of the community and its closure would cause a devastating blow.”

As things stands, the 4,400 patients registered at the centre will have to find an alternative surgery by March.

Campaigners are also hoping for a positive result from an application to the High Court for a judicial review into Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s handling of the facility’s closure.

A judge is expected to make a decision on the application, submitted by patient Yvonne De Burgo, 71, today.

Mrs De Burgo said she does not believe the CCG consulted properly on its plans to close Deer Park.

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Mr Courts continued: "I am in close contact with the patient participation group and have been following their actions carefully. They have clearly demonstrated the passion felt by the residents of Witney.

“Although as an MP I am unable to become involved in legal matters, I shall be keenly waiting to hear the judge’s decision about the judicial review, due later today.”

The CCG has said its priority is ensuring patients receive a good level of care while patients move from Deer Park to other surgeries.

Regarding the legal action, spokesman for the CCG Julia Stackhouse said: “The CCG has received documents from the solicitors acting for a patient of Deer Park Medical Centre. The CCG is unable to comment further pending legal discussions.”

Deer Park campaigners will join other Oxfordshire health campaigners for a demonstration before tomorrow's HOSC meeting starts in County Hall, Oxford, at 10am.