THE planned closure of Wellington’s Luson Surgery will only lead to extended mental health problems for vulnerable patients, says councillor.

There has been widespread dismay and concern locally at plans for the Luson Surgery to be closed in September and for its roughly 6,500 patients to be transferred to the Wellington Medical Centre, which is already battling against increasing numbers.

The centre is now expected to extend its capacity to 23,000 patients from the end of September.

Councillors met on Monday, August 4, at Wellington Town Council’s monthly meeting where they were joined by around 50 concerned residents and local MP Gideon Amos.

Cllr Ross Henley spoke about the problems which he believed would be caused to all patients by Luson closing its doors – most notably those with existing mental health problems and the most vulnerable members of the Wellington community.

“Vulnerable people will be severely impacted by the closure of Luson – it will affect their mental health,” he said. “This will really worry people who find change difficult to manage.”

A number of residents spoke during public participation time and all of them had big worries about what the future might hold for patients once Luson closes its doors for the final time.

One person said: “The GPs at Wellington Medical Centre are already stretched to the limit – how are they going to cope? It is just ridiculous.”

MP for Wellington and Taunton, Mr Amos said he’d joined the meeting “mainly to listen” to what members of the public had to say.

Mr Amos added: “I was not at all happy with the news about Luson – I was just as disappointed as everybody else.

“We need to make sure there are enough GPs and make sure they are retained and we don’t lose them.

“I’ve written to the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, and I’ve spoken with Luson and the Wellington Medical Centre and challenged them.

“It is crucial that more GPs are recruited and that local people are properly served.”

Cllr Steve Mercer said: “We need a second medical centre in Wellington, but that would take between two and four years to achieve. We need some crisis management in the short-term.”

Cllr Andy Govier said: “The news about Luson came as a bolt out of the blue and it is now incredibly important that we support the patients on this.

“But, as has been said, recruiting GPs into Somerset and getting them to stay here is very difficult.”

Cllr Govier added: “The silver lining to what is a very dark cloud is that the authorities will be looking at medical and health services in Wellington.

“NHS Somerset is keen to work with the council and listen to what we have to say.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “NHS Somerset is failing to get the GPs into Wellington.”

Councillors agreed that it was vital that a meeting was held with NHS Somerset and Wellington Medical Centre to clarify how the transfer of patients was going to be managed with particular emphasis on vulnerable people.