A DECISION to close Freshbrook Surgery two days a week over unresolved staff shortages will be put to patients and could potentially be overturned next month.

In July, the practice announced it would ask NHS England for permission to cut opening hours to three days.

It was granted consent but only for a four-month period, at which time the temporary closure would be reviewed.

At the time, senior partner at the practice Dr Amit Dwivedi explained that with one GP about to leave, another reducing his hours and no applications to fill the vacancies, the practice had been left with no other choice but to reduce services.

Since the move, the practice’s sister surgery, Ridge Green Medical Practice in Shaw, has been welcoming Freshbrook patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On October 7, Freshbrook patients will be invited to discuss concerns or issues they may have with travelling to Shaw or with booking a GP appointment.

Explaining the circumstances which prompted him to apply for reduced opening hours, Dr Dwivedi said: “There are a number of pressures on general practice at the moment.

“There is a large recruitment crisis that’s now been going on for a year or two.

“We are completely sympathetic to patients’ concerns.

“I can only give people what I have. Doctors are voting with their feet and leaving general practice.

“Like everywhere else in the country lots of practices are advertising but no-one is filling the posts.”

While many patients deplored the move, with some protesting the decision outside the practice during the summer, the majority blamed the NHS for leaving small practices such as Freshbrook in the lurch.

Their view was also shared by South Swindon Labour candidate Anne Snelgrove, who launched her own petition to gather patient views.

“Many vulnerable people rely on the service offered and it is simply unacceptable for NHS England to agree to this closure,” she said.

“It is their responsibility to ensure there are enough doctors in Swindon and they have failed.”

The patient feedback meeting will be held between 6pm to 7pm, at Freshbrook Community Centre.