A PATIENT at the New Street practice has launched a campaign to save the surgery and plans to hold a public meeting in a bid to keep it open.

Mrs Debbie Cattell, of Colenze Drive, Andover, has been registered at the practice - with her husband and daughter -for about five years.

This week she said: "I like being able to go to a surgery and know who I'm speaking to.

"It's small and friendly and the doctors are great."

It's why she's launching a campaign to save the surgery and is inviting other patients to join a committee to co-ordinate future action.

She can be contacted on 01264 392651.

Mrs Karen Ashton, director of primary care for the Mid Hampshire PCT, said before Christmas that after a tendering process, none of the interested parties had demonstrated that they would be able to run the service within the funds available.

But PCT chief executive Chris Evennett said this week that some surgeries had since asked whether one option might be to use New Street as a branch surgery where some of the current patients could be seen.

It could even entail the retention of the two current doctors, although Mr Evennett made it clear this option should not be taken as a 'strong possibility'.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser