PLANS to close Hale Village GP surgery have incensed patients and politicians.

Halton MP Derek Twigg is seeking urgent talks with Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) over the future of the practice.

Mr Twigg said “I am clearly opposed to the closing of the surgery in Hale Village which is very important to my constituents who use it.

“Hale Village is quite isolated compared to the rest of Halton and also has a sizeable elderly population and not everybody has access to a car.

“It is important that the Clinical Commissioning Group take steps to secure the future of the GP surgery in the village and I will be working very closely with Hale Village councillor Mike Wharton.

“There is a national shortage of GPs and there is increasing pressure on general practice.

"It is a matter I have raised a number of times in Parliament and will continue to do so.”

Halton Cllr Wharton added: “Surely it is the responsibility of the CCG to ensure we are able to receive and access healthcare within a reasonable distance from where we live.

“We have seen the closure of the access centre in Halebank and now we are hearing that our surgery in Hale is to close.

“This is completely unacceptable and it is vital that Halton CCG treat this as a matter of urgency and consider ways to ensure that Hale residents receive the quality healthcare they need and that they can readily access.”

Dave Sweeney, Chief Officer, NHS Halton CCG said: “Upton Rocks practice wrote to us on 27thOctober with a request to close Hale Village Satellite Surgery. This surgery is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1pm to 2.30pm.

We have informed Upton Rocks practice there is a clear process that needs to be followed, including undertaking a formal consultation with patients, before we could consider their request.

NHS Halton CCG is committed to working with all Halton practices to ensure all residents have access to high quality General Practice services.”