BILL Wiggin MP says he’s “extremely disturbed” over events at  Kington Medical Practice which faces an uncertain future with treatment for thousands of patients at stake.

As reported by the Hereford Times, the practice, opened just two years ago to serve some 8,000 patients either side of the Welsh border, is struggling to sustain services while the GP who fought to see the £3.5 million surgery built has resigned.

A statement put on the practice website says attracting GPs to Kington was posed “serious difficulties” and the current situation was “not sustainable”.

“I am extremely disturbed that the GP who fought to set up Kington Medical Practice, Dr Richard King, has now resigned,” said Mr Wiggin.

The MP is today (Mon) due to speak with Sue Price, Director of Commissioning at Arden, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Area Team, NHS England.

 “I want to find out why, when we have read so much about GPs being highly paid, we have a shortage of them in Kington and the surrounding area -  with the pressure on A&E it is more important than ever that patients can access their GP,” said Mr Wiggin.

The MP has already met with Dr Andy Watts, head of Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group over the issue of GP access.

“I shall continue to hold meetings until a solution can be found for the patients in Kington,” he said.

Practice manager Jacqueline Rudge has said that staff remained committed to delivering high standards of service provision to patients and the local community.

But there is concern from those living in the centre’s catchment area of the possibility of closure while some patients have already registered elsewhere.

A Kington town councillor Tom Bounds has slammed the situation as a “shambles” while the area’s county councillor Terry James says the practice is paying for an “over-optimistic” view of what it could offer renting space to other health practitioners.

Ms Rudge confirmed that the centre is “continuing to supply services with 2.5 permanent GPs and the support and help of locum GPs” yet NHS England recommends a minimum of 5.5 doctors at a practice of Kington’s size to provide proper access to medical services.”

The website statement said that despite regular recruitment advertising, the centre has struggled to even find locums.

Senior partner Dr Richard King, who fought to secure the purpose-built surgery, resigned from the practice this month.

Before 2013, Kington had six full-time GPs, but two doctors left followed by the part-time doctor last year.

Also last year, the practice shut two branch surgeries at Pembridge and Eardisley due to a GP shortage.