A PUBLIC meeting is due to be held this week in relation to proposals to close Coombswood Surgery and move services to the Halesowen Health Centre.

A six-week consultation has been launched by Stourside Medical Practice, which runs Tenlands Road Surgery and Coombswood Surgery, in a bid to move the two surgeries under one roof at the Birmingham Street centre.

In a letter to patients, Dr Ruth Hearn said a “great deal of thought and consideration” had gone into the proposals and the practice bringing the services together would ensure they are “safe and stable” from the risk of closure.

But a spokesman for Evergreen Pharmacy, which is based near the surgery on Coombs Road, said patients are “worried” about what might happen if the closure plans go ahead.

“We have got a petition with more than 300 signatures of patients and members of the community who are against the plans,” the spokesman said.

“We have a very good relationship with the patients of the surgery and many have told us about how worried they are by this.

“It will affect so many local people, including the pharmacy.

“We want patients to know that there are people here who will give them support, and we want to get everybody’s point of view across.”

The pharmacy will hold a public meeting at 2.30pm on Friday (January 12), with Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris expected to be in attendance.

However, Dr Hearn said there are “many benefits” to relocating the services at the two smaller branches to their largest branch – including better access for disabled people.

She said: “The catalyst for change is a belief in the importance of safety, stability, more GP time and equality and diversity and these principals are universally important to the entire team.

“It is important to clarify that any financial savings will be directly reinvested into providing a better service by using this money to fund more GP time.”

For more information on the surgery proposals visit www.stoursidenhs.co.uk, or to give your views as part of the consultation visit www.stoursidenhs.co.uk/proposal-feedback-form.

The results of the consultation, which is set to end on January 22, will then be reported to Dudley CCG for a final decision.