THOUSANDS of patients could be risking the care they receive by not registering with a new surgery, a health watchdog has warned.

More than 3,000 patients remain registered at Deer Park Medical Centre, which, despite a passionate campaign from patients to save it, is still due to close at the end of the month.

Campaigners believe many of those staying registered at the practice are awaiting a response from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who had the decision referred to him last month.

The MP is expected to make a decision by tomorrow, but solicitors working on behalf of a patient are moving forward with an application for judicial review against him for taking too long.

But Healthwatch Oxfordshire has urged patients to register at alternative practices so that they do not end up without a GP at all.

Executive director Rosalind Pearce said: “Care could be compromised if patients are not registered with a GP.

“We understand that some patients have been holding on, waiting for the situation at Deer Park to be sorted out in the belief that they will not have to move surgeries. Our view is that they should move before it is too late, and if the situation changes at Deer Park they can always move back.

“One of the easiest things that patients can do to look after their own health and well-being is to be registered at a GP surgery and it is clearly in their interests to register now.”

On Friday, the patient participation group (PPG) at Deer Park stopped urging patients to remain at the practice and began helping them re-register elsewhere.

The decision to close the centre was referred to Mr Hunt last month following an unanimous vote by Oxfordshire health overview and scrutiny committee.

Solicitors working on behalf of patient Yvonne De Burgo have launched an application for judicial review against Mr Hunt for not making a decision on the closure quickly enough.

She and other members of the patient participation group have been told to expect a decision by tomorrow.

PPG vice chairman and town councillor Jim King said time was running out, but said the group would be acknowledged nationally if they were successful in their efforts to save the practice.

He said: "The clock is ticking and it has been since September last year. We’re now, in my jargon, at 23.59 and we’re really no further forward.

"If we win this it sets the model for the whole country. We will be experts in taking them to task.

"I can see a lot of people coming to us for advice on what we did and how we did it."

When the contract for provision of care at Deer Park went out to tender last year, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said no bids were submitted to provide the service at an affordable cost.

The contract had previously been held by Virgin Care.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We want all patients to have access to high quality GP surgeries.

"We are reviewing this referral from the health overview and scrutiny committee and a decision will be made in due course.”

They did not comment on the legal action against the Health Secretary.

Following the news, Healthwatch Oxfordshire have launched a survey on healthcare in West Oxfordshire. To complete the survey click here