PATIENTS are set to lose a vital service when a GP surgery is forced to close once a week because of NHS funding cuts.

Bosses at Essex University Medical Centre, which is run by Rowhedge Surgery, say they have been forced to close the surgery every Wednesday afternoon.

The cut in funding comes after a Government decision to withdraw extra funding to provide care for young people and focus it on older people.

About 10,000 patients at the surgery are students.

Dr Michele Wall, senior practice partner, said the decision was taken having already lost £40,000 in funding this year, which will be followed by an £80,000 cut from April 2015.

She said: “This is a vital service for our patients.

“It is an atrocious decision to take.

“We became GPs because we care about the patients."

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