A COMMUNITY today launched a campaign to save a doctor's surgery after its 2,000 patients were transferred to another practice.

Dr C K Rao, in Lincoln Close, Blackburn, is retiring due to ill health and the Primary Care Trust has not yet replaced him. Instead, his patients will now be treated at Dr Rolland's surgery, in Accrington Road, prompting anger from the Audley community.

They have amassed a petition with 500 names demanding Dr Rao is replaced and intend to present it to Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust chief executive Vivien Aspey.

People from the Audley and Queen's Park areas are against the transfer as they believe waiting time for an appointment will increase as Dr Rolland already cares for about 2,000 patients. Also, they fear those with mobility difficulties may struggle to travel to the surgery and that many people on low income will struggle to pay for taxis.

Some Asian patients are concerned that they may not be able to communicate their symptoms to Dr Rolland as she only speaks English.

Criticism of the Primary Care Trust follows the warning from Dr John Bidwell last week, who marked retirement from his Darwen practice by claiming GPs were in crisis because of interfering government.

Dr Bidwell said the current GP recruitment problems were down to political interference turning talented people away from the job. But Coun Salim Mulla claimed that the Primary Care Trust had been slow in replacing Dr Rao, who had been on sick leave for the previous six months.

He said: "It was obvious he was not coming back. They have left it until the last minute to search for a replacement. The Primary Care Trust isn't doing enough to recruit GPs from other areas.

"They have had at least a dozen doctors sitting in for Dr Rao, but have still not found a replacement.

"All the patients are coming to me and asking why they don't have a choice. Their community has lost a local service.

"We are not going to let this go until we get some satisfaction."

Nobody at the Primary Care Trust was available for comment.