CONFIRMATION that the part-time doctors’ surgery in Otterburn is to permanently close has fuelled a quest to improve transport services for patients in the Rede Valley.

The twice-weekly surgeries at Otterburn Memorial Hall, operated by the Bellingham Practice, were closed in March last year following safety concerns from the Care Quality Commission.

And last week patients received a letter confirming that the Northumberland Primary Care Commissioning Committee had approved the practice’s application to permanently close the surgery.

A letter was sent out to patients explaining that the approval was subject to the submission of an action plan to address patient concerns. It read: “We will continue to work with the local parish councils to explore funding options and develop local community transport services between the Rede Valley and Bellingham on other days of the week.”

At a meeting last week, councillors in Otterburn discussed the possibility of circulating a detailed research questionnaire to find out about villagers’ transport needs, agreeing to await the outcome of that before making suggestions.

Clerk Martin Chilvers said: “It would appear the bus service that is just Friday morning is less than ideal for many and it really requires a better solution.”

Chairman of the parish council, Coun. Andy Robbins, said: “With the closure of the surgery, people need to be able to get some sort of service and our responsibility is to ensure parishioners can get to it.”

A consultation over the closure of Rothbury Community Hospital, 15 miles away from Otterburn, added to the discussion of healthcare at the meeting.

Speaking about the plans which are up for public consultation until April 25, Coun. Peter Tully said: “There will now be a hospital as far away from everybody as it can get.

“Personally, I think we have been robbed of healthcare.

“It is a loss of local healthcare that is accessible for people.”

The documents outline that the decision has been made after a review of beds showed that from September 2015 to August 2016, only half of the beds were occupied at any one time.

To read the documents or complete the consultation survey, visit: www.northumberland ccg .nhs.uk/get-involved/RCHconsultation.