HEALTH Secretary Jeremy Hunt has referred the closure of a Witney GP practice to an independent expert on service change. 

The decision to close Deer Park Medical Centre, in Edington Square, was referred to Mr Hunt last month following an unanimous vote by an Oxfordshire health committee. 

It has now been revealed that the MP has referred the decision to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, who will review what services should be 'provided at or in the immediate vicinity of Deer Park Medical Centre'. 

Mr Hunt wrote to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which announced the surgery's closure last year when, after putting the contract out to tender, no bids were submitted to provide the service at an affordable cost.

The letter reads: "The option to look again at what services should be provided at or in the immediate vicinity of Deer Park Medical Centre is one to be considered by the IRP. 

"I am, however, satisfied that, based on evidence presented to me, the option to continue the existing service expired some months ago, and that it is not now a safe or practical option. 

"I have decided not to make any directions at this time, having regard in particular to the potential risk to patient safety, to unpick the current arrangements for handling the inevitable consequences of the ending of the existing contract. 

"I would also like you to consider (bearing in mind also the requirements of safety and efficiency) taking no further actions, pending the outcome of the IRP review, that would preclude a future resumption (or re-commissioning) of services at/on/near the existing site."

Mr Hunt has asked the IRP to provide their guidance by April 11. 

It is understood that the practice will now close next Friday.

Campaigners have said they will continue to fight for the patients of Deer Park.

A spokesman for the CCG said: "The decision to close the practice has been referred for an initial assessment to the Independent Referral Panel which will report back by April 11, but the Secretary of State has advised that in the interest of safety and continued access to care, patients should now re-register with one of the alternative local practices (a patient will need to live within the practice boundary) with space available on their lists.

"Patients who do not register with a new practice risk being unable to easily access medical care from a GP. All the alternative practices are happy to help make the process of changing surgeries as swift and as simple as possible."

More to follow.