A POLITICAL spat has broken out over the closure of a GP surgery in Malvern.

Link End Surgery, in Pickersleigh Road, is due to merge with Malvern Health Centre, in Prospect Close, in April.

The practice has been described as the 'main' surgery in the Malvern Link area, and the closure will mean some locals face a longer journey to get to their doctor.

Samantha Charles, chair of the West Worcestershire Constituency Labour Party, said: “I am disappointed to hear that Link End Surgery is closing and patients are being transferred to Prospect View.

“Once again residents in Malvern Link are missing out on local services through lack of funding.

“Evergreen Children’s Centre in Malvern Link was closed and now a GP practice too.”

However Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: "Labour are talking nonsense.

"I have been briefed by the Clinical Commissioning Group that the decision to move location was taken by the practice itself because two of the partners [Dr Sefton Fiddian and Dr Smith] were retiring and on a business basis they have decided to merge with a popular local practice."

She said the NHS employs 3,100 more doctors than last year, local health budgets have risen every year, income inequality has fallen and the low paid have seen a big pay rise through the National Living Wage.

Martin Willis, aged 68, of Alexandra Road, Malvern, said: "It will be a big loss. It's taking away the main surgery in Malvern Link."

He said he received a letter last week informing him of the closure and blamed an NHS staffing crisis for the practice not being able to replace two of its GPs.

New Court Surgery is also based at Prospect View.

To find out more about the merger a meeting will be held at Prospect View on Wednesday 28th February at 7.30pm.

The surgery wants those planning to attend to ring 01684 568466 or email manager.linkend@nhs.net.