A DOCTORS practice is putting pounds before patients by planning to close one of its surgeries, say campaigners who are launching a petition to keep it open.

The News reported last week that Three Villages Medical Practice is proposing to close its Wollaston site on Bridgnorth Road and locate solely at Stourbridge Health and Social Centre in John Corbett Drive, Amblecote.

The plans have come under fire from the practice’s Patient Participation Group (PPG), which believes budgets are being prioritised, rather than people’s healthcare needs.

The alternative surgery is just over a mile away and while that will pose few problems for those who drive, PPG vice-chairman Colin Burch says many patients, particularly the elderly and disabled, do not have a car.

Mr Burch said: “You are talking about 1,000-2,000 people that live much nearer this surgery than Amblecote – my main concern is for elderly and disabled patients and pregnant women or young mothers with pushchairs.

“The plans will have quite a serious impact on the village too. There has been a surgery on that site for more than 80 years. It’s a very long-established surgery.

“I think it’s a business decision vs a patient decision – and I don’t think that’s right.”

Mr Burch and other PPG members have produced a petition – which can be found on the counters of Boots Pharmacy and Wollaston Post Office – against the plans.

And he says that it is not only the practice that is under threat, it is a host of worthy projects associated with the surgery.

Mr Burch, a patient at Three Villages for more than 40 years, added: “We also have a blood testing service that runs at Wollaston that’s well used by elderly patients – that will disappear because they can’t offer the facility at Amblecote.

“There is also a big threat to our Tea Party group – virtually everyone who attends is a Wollaston patient. If we start losing patients then it might put the group in jeopardy.

“I’m an optimist so I’m hoping we get enough support – at least two of the three local councillors have said they will support us and Margot James is looking into the matter too.”

The ‘Tea Party’, set up to help isolated and lonely patients, has recently received awards from Dudley CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) and co-founder Steve Sharples believes the plans will jeopardise the group’s future.

Mr Sharples said: “The Tea Party has changed the lives who were lonely and dispirited before but who now have friends and have somewhere to go.

“It’s doing a disservice to close the practice down when so many people are using it.”

Three Villages are running a two-month consultation period on the proposals – the next public meeting on the issue will be held at St James’ Church, Wollaston on Wednesday, August 8 at 7pm.