I FEEL compelled to write to draw your readers attention to the threatened closure of our local medical centre at The Practice, Melcombe Avenue, Weymouth.

This is because the current contract which was initially only taken out for five years is due to come to an end this coming June. We are told this cannot be renewed in spite of the quality of the service we have been enjoying but exactly why this is so has not been made fully clear.

We are told that the move is for the benefit of patients but I cannot see how this can be the case as all of us who attended the NHS England drop in session here recently were devastated by the news. I understand that the dedicated staff here are also opposed to any change. I suspect that this is yet another example of this Governments high handed and brutal cost cutting exercises and as little to do with the welfare of patients. But we have not been told how much money – if any – this scheme will save, and in any case would it be worth jeopardising such a well-loved and successful practice?

The closure of the Practice would involve us all being relocated to other practice in the town, which are already oversubscribed, and where waiting times for appointments and for seeing a doctor are already long.

So on all counts I consider this move to be misguided and would serve no useful purpose, and from what I have seen of the mood of other patients, they would agree with me whole heartedly.

Isn’t it time that people in this county were really listened to, and their concerns acted upon?

Pamela Winstanley

Campion Close

Weymouth