More Oxford pensioners could find it difficult to visit a doctor after news that another GP surgery is threatened with closure.

About 1,500 patients may have to find another doctor when Dr Nina Cartwright, of Wolvercote Surgery, retires at the end of the year. She has run the practice single-handedly for 30 years.

Jim Campbell, Oxford City councillor for Wolvercote, said that if the surgery closed, patients would have to travel to Summertown for health care.

He said: "That's the nearest practice and there's no direct bus route. This could make life very difficult for the elderly, and parents with young children. It will prove enormously hard for patients."

Oxford City Primary Care Trust managers, who ensure patients have access to GPs, are working with other surgeries in the area to make sure Dr Cartwright's patients can find new health care.

PCT could invite other GPs to run Wolvercote Surgery, but patients may also be asked to re-register at other practices.

A PCT spokesman said arrangements would be in place by the time Dr Cartwright retired.

PCT chief executive Andrea Young said: "We would like to extend our thanks to Dr Cartwright for the contribution she has made to primary care in Oxford over the past 30 years, and wish her all the best for her well-earned retirement."

The surgery is the latest small practice to face closure.

Eleven months ago, Dr Thambimuthu Rajakulendran, known as Dr Raj, decided to close Barton Estate's surgery, before doctors from Bury Knowle Health Centre and The Manor Surgery stepped in.

Northway Health Centre, in Marston, is expected to close at Christmas.