GOBSMACKED patients say they are disgusted that the 'best GP practice in the area' is earmarked for closure.

Lakeside Surgery, based at the Goldthorpe Centre, will reach the end of its contract on November 8 and according to its website the contract will not be extended due to 'limits on space' and the low number of patients registered.

Patient Rev Peter Sawyer, of Lansdowne Close, Thurnscoe, said it was 'deplorable' to close a 'wonderful practice'.

"We left a surgery to come here because we heard it was very good.

"All the staff have bent over backwards to care for me. I collapsed here once, they rang me the next day to ask if I was OK. They didn't have to do that.

"This has been a model of how a doctor's surgery should be run."

Patients received letters about the proposed closure last Friday. The letter says two options are being considered; either making Lakeside a 'branch surgery' becoming a subsiduary of another practice or simply 'dispersing' the patients to other surgeries.

The Chronicle understands there are 2,600 registered patients, when 3,500 would be needed for it to continue.

Patients are to be invited to give their views on future options and can fill in a survey at the surgery website lakesidesurgerygoldthorpe.co.uk or collect a hard copy from the surgery.

An open event will be held at the surgery on Tuesday between 8.30am and 12.30pm so patients can ask questions and raise any concerns they may have about the plans.

** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated September 19. **