AN overcrowded surgery has told 800 people they will have to look elsewhere for a doctor as it attempts to cope with an influx of new patients. Wimpole Road Surgery, in Colchester, sent out letters to a selection of patients living outside a one-mile catchment area telling them they had a month to find a new doctor.

AN overcrowded surgery has told 800 people they will have to look elsewhere for a doctor as it attempts to cope with an influx of new patients.

Wimpole Road Surgery, in Colchester, sent out letters to a selection of patients living outside a one-mile catchment area telling them they had a month to find a new doctor.

Yesterday, the surgery manager said it was the patients who lived furthest away who had been cut and said anyone not been contacted yet would not be affected “for the foreseeable future”.

He also revealed the surgery was receiving 20 to 30 new applications from people every day as a result of the influx of new homes springing up in the nearby Hythe and Old Heath areas of town.

The pressure on Wimpole Road significantly increased after a surgery based at the Hythe Community Centre was forced to close after Dr Anthony Chyc was suspended last year, although it is hoped it will open again soon.

One of the patients cut from Wimpole Road's books, Barbara Janes, said she was shocked at the news.

The 71-year-old from Langenhoe, near Colchester, said: “I am still quite upset by it and I suppose I will be until I get used to my new doctor.”

But Brain Telford, practice manager at Wimpole Road, said: “The current list size at Wimpole Road Surgery is 9800 patients, which is well above the national average list size.

“It was felt that in order to maintain the quality of care to the patients, removing those patients residing outside the practice area was the only solution.

“The health authority and Colchester Primary Care trust were consulted on this difficult situation and hopefully the patients will understand the need for this decision and will register within their catchment areas.”

A spokesman for Colchester Primary Care Trust, said: “We are committed to reopening the surgery at the Hythe Community Centre and we hope that will happen sooner rather than later.”

He suggested any Wimpole Road patients struggling to find a new doctor should contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 3285620.