A Reading doctor's surgery is at risk of closure.
The University Medical Group is proposing to shut its Whitley Villa Surgery at 1 Christchurch Road at the start of next year.
The group's website confirms that it is proposing to close the branch, with a link to a survey form.
The survey question states: "The practice is proposing to close Whitley Villa Surgery at the end of the year and is undertaking a period of patient consultation.
"Do you have a preference on which surgery you are offered an appointment at?"
People are asked 'yes' or 'no'. If they do have a preference, they are asked to write their preference down.
Information on the Healthwatch Reading website states that the aim is to close the surgery from the start of January 2025.
Justifying the closure, the University Medical Group stated the building is not Disability Discrimination Act Compliant as there is no lift to the first floor GP consulting rooms.
Furthermore, the Group is not able to have a GP at Whitley Villa at all times as they are often required at the Group's main site in Northcourt Avenue.
Alarm about the proposed closure has been raised by the Reading Green Party, which has encouraged patients to engage in the consultation.
Councillor Kate Nikulina (Green, Katesgrove) said: "Green councillors are concerned about this doctors' surgery closing.
"It provides a vital service to the community. We appreciate the need to be efficient but we think more consideration needs to be given to keeping the surgery open and improving it.
"Otherwise, if it closes some people will have to travel further to access a doctor.
"If residents choose to change to a closer surgery, it will put more pressure on doctors there meaning longer waiting times. We urge residents to respond to this consultation.
“Everyone knows we've struggled through years of cuts and austerity under the last government, and of course we're worried there will be more to come under this one.
“Nationally the Green Party have called for huge investment in our NHS to provide better access to GPs and locally we've campaigned for years for better access to NHS dentists, so to see a surgery closing is a real shame.”
Whitley Villa Surgery is located half a mile away from the University Medical Group's site in Northcourt Avenue.
If you have any views to express about the proposed closure or would like more information regarding this proposed change, you can do so by emailing Fiona.mullin@nhs.net or writing to Fiona Mullin, University Medical Practice, 9 Northcourt Avenue, Reading RG2 7HE.
The consultation closes at the end of September 2024.
Justifying the closure, a spokesperson for Whitley Villa Surgery said: "Patient care and the provision of a first-class service to our patients is a priority at the University Medical Group. The practice works hard to ensure that it meets the needs of its patients, and that those who need to see a healthcare professional, are able to do so as quickly and easily as possible.
"Currently Whitley Villa is used by a very small number of patients, with the vast majority preferring to use the larger, modern Northcourt Avenue site with better facilities, longer opening hours, onsite parking and no barriers to accessibility.
"We are proposing the closure of Whitley Villa in order to concentrate our resources into our main site at Northcourt Avenue and offer a wider range of services there.
"We welcome feedback from all our patients, and are inviting them to take part in our patient consultation."
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