I would like to lend my support to the campaign to keep the St Neots surgery open as featured in The Comet last week. I was a long-term supporter of the late Dr K Reddy having transferred from his previous surgery to stay with him. I am suffering from a l

I would like to lend my support to the campaign to keep the St Neots surgery open as featured in The Comet last week.

I was a long-term supporter of the late Dr K Reddy having transferred from his previous surgery to stay with him.

I am suffering from a long-term debilitating illness which entails frequent blood tests and visits to Bedford Hospital which I am able to arrange at the surgery.

I have always found the staff, without exception, very kind and always helpful.

To close this surgery down would, in my opinion, be a total disaster.

G PICKERING, Glebe Road, Sandy

* The late Dr Reddy's surgery must stay open for the community of Sandy.

The Bedfordshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust must get the message, the 2,723 patients need to sign the petition as well as supporters to keep the surgery open. Petition forms are held in the surgery in St Neots and at Sandy Town Library. Please go along and sign up now before it is too late. The population of Sandy is growing all the time and doctors surgeries are a needed facility in the growing town of Sandy.

Anne Walker, chief executive of the primary care trust must listen to the residents of Sandy! I understand that a GP is putting together a business plan to present to Anne Walker for consideration. Please write to Sandy Town Council and your local MP now about your concerns, your support is needed. The Biggleswade and District Pensioners Association is backing the campaign to keep the surgery open in St Neots Road, Sandy.

KEN LYNCH, Pyms Way, Sandy

* Having read the article in last weeks Comet and listening to numerous local 'grapevine news' my wife and I wish to indicate our grave concern at the possibility of having to move to an alternative practice in Sandy after the recent tragic death of our beloved Dr Reddy.

I believe they broke the mould after Dr Reddy as he was the finest doctor I have had in my life. All my family are registered at the St Neots Road Surgery, we have all had need to attend his surgery over the years and without fail we have all received the very best quality of service. Even when my mother in law who was staying with us became very ill, he always found the time to ask after her health, not for the sake of asking but with a real sense of interest in his patients.

We are now of the opinion, rightly or wrongly, as we have only received one scant letter from the PCT since his death, that it is likely the surgery will be closed and all patients transferred to either Sandy Health Centre or Kings Road Surgery.

Surely this is a short term half solution, with a view only to saving money? The population of Sandy continues to grow, I believe it is just short of 15,000 at present. It seems illogical to close a much needed practice when we all feel additional practices are required. (Why is there no surgery within the Fallowfield estate?)

Heartlands PCT have to spend our money wisely using best practice, this we all understand, but is the closure of a doctors surgery in an ever-growing town the wisest and, in the long term, most cost-effective solution, I have my doubts.

If the decision is made to transfer all patients to either Kings Road Surgery or Sandy Health Centre, who makes the selection of who goes where? What criteria is employed? Do the patients have any say before a final decision is made.

My wife and I will NOT return to Kings Road Surgery after poor quality of service some years ago.

My wife and I do not wish to attend Sandy Health Centre which, to all intents and purposes, is likened to a cattle market for the unwell.

DEREK MILLHAM