CHIPPENHAM NEWS: ANGRY Lacock resident Cyril Perkins is preparing to lobby health chiefs in London over the decision to close the village surgery.

The 74-year-old said the majority of residents were disgusted with West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's decision to allow doctors to close Cantax House, which has 350 patients on its books.

The surgery is set to shut at the end of this month because health chiefs say the building is outdated and unfit for its purpose.

But Mr Perkins was unhappy bosses at the Melksham-based Spa Med-ical Centre, which runs the service, had snubbed the National Trust's offer of alternative accommodation in the village.

He believes once the surgery closes, it will take him and more vulnerable residents up to four hours to see a GP in Melksham.

But health chiefs claimed many of the appointments were for repeat prescriptions, and as Boots had agreed to start a home delivery service residents' transport worries would be eased.

Mr Perkins said: "The journey to the Spa Med-ical Centre involves using two buses, increasing the time and cost of travelling.

"As the bus from Lacock is an hourly service, trying to synchronise the two buses and your appointment time is a hit and miss affair. To face that with a poorly child, possibly with a baby in a pram as well, beggars belief."

In his appeal, Mr Perkins will argue against the closure, highlighting Kennet and North Wilts-hire and Wiltshire County County's overview and scrutiny committees' decisions to vote against it.

He said a 186-name petition against the axing of the service, which was presented to the county council last month, also showed the level of opposition.

He hopes, because of the opposition, the PCT's decision will be referred to health secretary Alan Milburn for investigation.

Mr Perkins said: "I've discovered there are steps to follow when making an appeal but I want to go straight to the top."

Bosses at the Spa Medical Centre are worried the building will not comply with disability discrimination legislation which comes into force next month the staircase leading up to the consulting room being one area for concern.

Debra Elliot, the PCT's director of planning and development, said they had no choice but to close the surgery because it was clinically unsafe, patient confidentiality was being compromised, resources were being wasted and the security of staff and controlled drugs stored in the building were in jeopardy.

"The quality of care is being compromised," she said.

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