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Patients petition against Fylde's new health centres
MORE than 500 patients have signed a petition aimed at blocking potential plans for a new medical centre in rural Fylde.
Worried people using Kirkham Health Centre in Kirkham have backed a campaign to keep their existing surgery.
It is feared any plans would put three rural surgeries – two in Kirkham and one in Freckleton – at risk, isolating elderly patients living in remote town and villages.
Concern about a rural Fylde centre has risen following approval for centres at the former Lytham Hospital, where work has already started.
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A primary care centre is planned in St Annes between Durham Avenue and Stephen Street.
Nadine Woodmason, practice manager at the Kirkham centre which has around 8,700 patients, is concerned about the impact on the rural community.
She said: "Patients feel quite strongly against clinics here.
"They are very happy with the service we provide and there are fears about where they are going to be based.
"People are familiar with their own GP. They like to see their own doctor because they know them.
"Patients have been coming into the surgery of their free will just to sign the petition."
The push for signatures is part of a nationwide campaign by the British Medical Association, which represents doctors.
Practice bosses on the Fylde say retiring GPs on the Fylde are already not being replaced.
Cleveleys Heath Centre has already collected more than 1,000 signatures from patients against a planned centre in Thornton or Cleveleys.
Centres are also earmarked for South Shore, Bispham and Fleetwood. Work is also under way on a centre on Whitegate Drive in Blackpool.
The drive has been backed by Wesham Coun Simon Renwick, who has met with surgery bosses to discuss the problem.
He said: "While Polyclinics may suit large urban areas, smaller rural communities could start losing vital local services.
"There is concern amongst health care professional, community leaders and most important of all, patients.
"I urge all people to pop into their local GP's to sign the petition against another loss of local services.
"We want to stop this decision being made."
Fylde MP Michael Jack believes patients should be put first in the reorganisation of health services.
He said: "People in Kirkham have been extremely well served and I can
well understand why they would not want things to be changed.
"I would be happy to take this case up although I am not personally aware of any plans at the moment."
A spokeswoman for North Lancashire PCT was unavailable for comment.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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