A SPECIAL meeting is being held for campaigners to question NHS England over the future of a Middlesbrough doctor’s surgery.

Residents, councillors and their local MP have joined forces in an attempt to save Hemlington Surgery from closure, which would leave them with a practice in the area.

Staff from NHS England will be at the specially organised meeting of Hemlington Community Council on Tuesday, September 23, when people will be able to express their views.

The campaign has been heavily backed by Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor Dave Budd, local councillors Jeanette Walker and Nicky Walker and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop, who is calling for a government rethink on funding for GP surgeries in deprived areas.

Councillor Budd, a former ward member for part of Hemlington, said: “It is clear to anyone who knows the area that Hemlington, which has some pockets of real deprivation, needs a GP surgery.

“NHS England seem to have adopted a very short-sighted view given the fact there are more than 2,000 new homes planned for the south-west of Middlesbrough, with more than 1,000 of these virtually on the doorstep at Hemlington Grange - I’m amazed that the NHS consultation document claims that there ‘are no known future developments planned for the area’.

“With millions of pounds invested by NHS from the public purse in converting the building into a medical centre which has only been open four years, it hardly represents good value for money.”

In a joint statement from Hemlington Ward councillors Jeanette Walker and Nicky Walker, the pair said: “We fought to get a surgery back in Hemlington and certainly won’t let it close without a fight. It’s the only one in Hemlington and should stay open with an improved service.

“We urge as many people as possible to attend the meeting at Hemlington Library on Tuesday and to sign the petition in local shops and we will be pleading local residents’ case at the meetings next week.

“We believe the consultation process is flawed and patients have been misled. It is totally inappropriate that the surgery has been displaying notices proclaiming it is not closing throughout a period when the NHS are considering potential closure and patients have told us they found the consultation questions asked confusing.”

Speaking about the level of budget cuts NHS England is facing, Mr Blenkinsop said: ““Earlier this year we learned that South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs James Cook hospital is facing a financial black hole of nearly £30m. The fact that so many trusts are in the red show that it is clearly more than a local governance issue.”

The special meeting of Hemlington Community Council takes place at 7pm in Hemlington Library.