SERVICES will be reduced at Calne's Patford House Surgery next week, when it is temporarily closed for essential refurbishments.

Patients with urgent medical problems can still telephone the surgery and, if necessary, see a doctor.

But routine appointments will not be available next week because of urgent repair work to the floor in the reception and waiting areas.

Patients can telephone the nurses and doctor at the surgery for advice over the telephone. If a condition is felt to be serious people will still be able to come to the surgery to see a doctor.

The Patford House Surgery, which includes treatment rooms, a nurse practitioner and consultation suites, exists in partnership with the district council, which is the landlord of the property.

In April the council discovered dry rot in the floor and decided the damaged timbers needed to be replaced with a solid concrete floor.

Dr Paul Harris, who works at the surgery, said as soon as the surgery was given confirmation of the dates the council intended to carry out the work it sent letters to its 6,000 patients.

A spokesman for North Wiltshire District Council said: "Unfortunately it is likely to take several days to carry out this work. It is regrettable this work will cause some disruption. However, this course of action will benefit the building and its users in the long run."

The main reception and waiting room areas of the surgery will be closed from 8.30am on Friday until 5pm on August 15.

If patients have an urgent medical problem they can contact the surgery on (01249) 824000. The GP and nurse triage service will continue to operate during normal surgery hours from 8.30pm until 6pm.

There will be access to the surgery between 8.30am and noon and from 2pm to 5pm for repeat prescriptions.

It will re-open for normal services at 8.30am on August 18.

Patients unable to get through on the telephone can leave a message and a nurse will ring them back.