OUTRAGED residents are going door-to-door petitioning for a new doctors’ clinic following the announcement that a “vital” GP surgery will close amid merger plans.

Patients at the South Green Surgery, in Grange Road, Billericay, were told earlier this month that the surgery would need to vacate its current building by March and bosses have struggled to find a suitable premises to relocate to.

As a result, a consultation is being launched to merge with the New Surgery, 1.6 miles away in Stock Road, but residents fear it could lead to problems booking appointments.

Justine Norris, 55, has been left horrified by the news and has so far secured 600 signatures on her petition for a new GP surgery to be built.

The mum has relied on South Green in recent years after suffering from thyroid cancer and having a full knee replacement. She said: “When I heard, I was in tears, I haven’t had good health and I use the surgery regularly and I use the South Green chemist, it is a great parade of shops, and I thought about all those in the care homes in the vicinity.

“South Green isn’t flat, and the buses run every 20 to 30 minutes, it is easy to miss an appointment and the elderly will be in trouble.

“I went to the surgery and met people who were concerned, everyone started coming together around this and while I am not usually the one to do anything like this, unfortunately, for my health, there is no choice.”

The South Green Surgery has more than 3,000 patients and under plans could to merge with the New Surgery, which has just under 3,000 patients.

Justine added: “We want a new surgery in Burstead, we can’t save the old surgery, and I feel I have no idea as to why this has been done.

“It is crazy that all of the GPs close to Billericay High Street, it cannot happen.”

The petition is to maintain the “personal touch” and Justine believes many elderly residents who rely on the surgery need to make their voices heard.

She added: “We want everybody to shout about this, when I moved here, I loved the beauty of it, I believe it is slowly going, and we need to care about each other.”